Edutainment: Summer camp at a few schools covers Kalika Habba

Mangaluru: A few government schools in Dakshina Kannada have conducted summer camps as an extension of the ‘Kalika Habba’, an initiative launched to bridge the gaps in learning among children, following the discontinuation of offline classes during the pandemic.
Sadananda Poonja, BEO, North, said that there has been no announcement from the government to conduct summer camps in schools. A few schools have conducted summer camps, soon after the annual exams, and a few others are planning to do so after Monday. The Bharat Scouts and Guides have sought permission to conduct camps in some of the schools.
Dresil Lilly Menezes, in-charge headmistress of Dakshina Kannada Zilla Panchayat Government Higher Primary School, Bokkapatna-3, said that they had already conducted two days of a camp. The school’s strength is 44 students. “In the past, we would invite students from other schools. However, this year, the summer camp was held early, because most of the students are from North Karnataka, and rush back to their native place, mostly to participate in the annual festivals,” said Menezes. In addition to Kalika Habba, activities were also conducted by resource persons from private institutions.
“Soon after the final exam, a few schools conducted Kalika Habba activities,” said Chitralekha K, district secretary of the Primary and High School Guest Teachers Association, Dakshina Kannada.
DR Naik, DDPI, Dakshina Kannada, said that schools are free to conduct summer camps. “The department welcomes anyone coming forward to conduct camps for children,” he said.