Reports of DEAA, April - June 2012
Programmes on Art Integrated Learning (AIL)
A ten day long Capacity Building programme of District Institutes of Education and Training
(DIET) and primary teachers on Art Integrated Learning (AIL) was organized at DIET, Rajinder
Nagar from 14-25 May, 2012 for field-testing of the complete 'Training Package on Arts
Education for Primary Teachers'. This was attended by 45 participants including primary
teachers from M. C. D schools of district West and North West and teacher educators from
DIET Rajinder Nagar. Programme was coordinated by Prof. Pawan Sudhir, Head, Department
of Education in Arts and Aesthetics.
The training package consists of seven modules supported with specially produced and
selected video films and power point presentations. The process of field testing was completed
by the DEAA faculty members and trained master trainers as per the package guidelines in a
participatory and interactive mode. Teachers formed teams as per classes (from I-V) to work on
art integrated curriculum, class wise. They were given ample opportunity to explore and practice
AIL methods and share for the benefit of all. Everyday there were mock sessions to see the
internalization of the AIL concept among participating teachers. Observations and suggestions
from master trainers have been made note of and shall be incorporated in the package.
A three day workshop on preparation of Guidelines on Effective Implementation of AIL
for Primary Schools was conducted from June 26-28, 2012 to finalize the material on a
Handbook for Primary Teachers- Guidelines on Effective Implementation of Art
Integrated Learning (AIL) in Primary Schools with the participation of teachers and teacher
educators in the Department of Education in Arts and Aesthetics for implementation of Arts
Education at primary level of school education as envisaged by NCF 2005. The Handbook for
Primary Teachers’ consists of V units and provides classroom case studies, anecdotes,
guidelines and note for teachers including conceptual clarity on what, when and why of different
activities.
A meeting of Head of Schools under the AIL project was organized on April 26th 2012
and was attended by Educational Administrators and principals of MCD (Education) and
Principal and Teacher Educators from DIET Rajinder Nagar. Objective of the program was the
effective implementation of the second phase of AIL in MCD Schools, under this project. HoS of
the different schools presented report on AIL initiative of 2011 of their schools and gave
concrete suggestions for the second phase.
The faculty members of the DEAA have also been involved in the teacher training
programmes of Central Tibetan Schools organized by NCERT’s for Art Integrated Learning(AIL)
of different subjects.
Video Conferencing for Arts and Crafts Resource Centre
A meeting with Principals and faculty members of RIE and DM school teachers was held on
May 3-4, 2012 through video conferencing to establish the Art and Craft Resource Centers and
initiate the resource centre activities in each of the RIE. During the interaction, following issues
were discussed; identify a faculty member as coordinator for Resource Centre activities in each
RIE, organising art events/ exhibitions/ melas, camps and competitions on different art forms
etc., establishing a Resource Centre for Arts & Crafts, conducting workshops for pre-service
students of B. Ed., M. Ed., net working/ identifying institutions in every region – state wise
cultural institutions, museums, Bal Bhawans etc., making the campus aesthetically viable and
the Celebration of International Week of Arts Education from May 21-26, 2012.
Celebration of International week of Arts Education
The Celebrations for International Arts Education Week were organized by the Department of
Education in Arts and Aesthetics from 23-26 May, 2012. UNESCO in its General Conference at
Paris in August 2011 had one of the items on ‘Implementation of the Seoul Agenda: Goals for
the Development of Arts Education as an outcome of the 2nd world conference on arts
education’, decided to proclaim the week of International Arts Education from 21-26 May to
encourage all Member States, Civil Society, professional organizations and Community to
organize relevant activities to mark the occasion. India is one of the first few member states to
respond to this call.
There are many organizations promoting art and culture in our country who became
partners in this initiative, including UNESCO India, National Museum Institute of History of Art
and Conservation and Musicology, Centre for Cultural Resources and Training, National Bal
Bhavan and DIET, Rajendra Nagar, New Delhi. The inauguration of the celebrations was
organised on May, 23rd in the CCRT jointly by DEAA and CCRT. Government school teachers
from different parts of India attended this session, followed by a workshop on puppetry. The
function was graced by the presence of Prof. Parvin Sinclair, Director, NCERT, Prof. Pawan
Sudhir, Head DEAA, NCERT, Ms Moe Chiba, Programme specialist for Culture, UNESCO, Shri
Girish Joshi, Director, CCRT, Dr Ashok Arora, Principal DIET, Rajinder Nagar, Faculty from
DIET, Rajender Nagar and DEAA, NCERT. The key note address was delivered by Prof.
Sinclair, Director, NCERT who emphasized on the role of arts and aesthetics in each discipline
whether Mathematics or Science, all have features of arts & aesthetics embedded in them and
the aesthetic manifestation helps bringing out the best in every discipline. A film was shown on
children with special needs, highlighting their art experiences and achievements, including their
felecitation with Bal Shree Award from National Bal Bhavan, MHRD. Sarita, Rizwan and Shruti
exhibited their talent in painting, sketching, embroidery, computer in-spite of their serious and
multiple physical handicaps. They also emphasized on how arts helped them to overcome their
circumstances. Ms Moe Chiba from UNESCO briefed the participants on the Seoul agenda
which was followed by a Panel Discussion on 'Arts in Education - for Holistic Learning and
Development' by Prof. Pawan Sudhir, DEAA, NCERT, Dr Ashok Arora, Principal, DIET, Rajinder
Nagar Ms. Veena Gandhi, Principal and Ms. Rekha Chugh, Teacher, of Nigam Pratibha
Vidyalya, New Choukhandi Delhi. A film was shown on ‘Art as A Brain Developer’ which is an
interview based programme with Dr. Vivek Benegal, Neurologist and Psychiatrist from
NIMHANS Bengaluru. A film was also shown on different programmes carried out by CCRT.
On the second day, National Museum Institute of History of Art, Conservation and
Museology (NMIHACM) organized a programme to mark the occasion on the theme, ‘Museum
in Schools for Promoting Arts Education’. In this day long programme, the Registrar of the
Institute Mr. K. K. Kulshrestha addressed the participating teachers and expressed his hope to
work with NCERT in future also. A guided tour to the National Museum was organized for
appreciation of the arts. In the evening a special slide show was organized for appreciation of
Indian arts.
On May 25 a session on AIL was held at DIET Rajendra Nagar organized to celebrate
the international week by the teacher educators from different DIET faculty members and the
teachers of MCD schools. The campus was resplendent with varied colours and hue. A white
canvas was put up on the walls and soon all participants who were teachers and teacher
educators transformed it to a huge painting as each member individually pasted their coloured
palm with signatures. This action cheered up the hearts to such a momentum that hands,feet
,body ,voice coordinated and the finest song and dance poured out transforming the venue to a
paradise of culture and subsequent happiness. The day long celebrations were attended by
dignitaries like Director and Joint Director, SCERT, all the Principals of DIET, Delhi, Deputy
Director, (Education), MCD, West District, Director (Education) INTACH etc. All these dignitaries
printed their hand impressions in different colours on a large canvas in support for the cause of
promoting Arts education.
On the last day, a visit to National Bal Bhawan had been organized where the faculty
members from different Regional Institutes of Education and NCERT interacted with the
teachers and children attending the creative arts camp there. Director In-charge, Mr. Gaya
Prasad, IAS and Prof. Pawan Sudhir, Head, DEAA addressed the gathering at a special
assembly of around 4000 children about the importance of Arts Education.
A cultural evening was organized in the amphitheatre of CIET. NCERT on 26th May,
2012. The teachers of Central Tibetan Schools attending a 21 day orientation programme at
NCERT in different disciplines participated in a group presentation rendering folk songs of Bihar,
Uttarakhand, Assam, Rajasthan etc. concluding with the popular patriotic song ‘Hind Desh Kay
Niwaasi’. This was followed by Hindustani (Vocal) recital by Dr. Sharbari Banerjee, DEAA,
NCERT where she sang Raga Hamsdhwani, a semi classical piece known as Jhoola and a
Rabindra sangeet. This was follwed by a mesmrising performance of Rajasthani folk music by
Ustad Rahmat Khan Langha and accompanying artists of his gharana, which was a SPICMACAY presentation. Ustad Rahmat Khan sang folk songs like Chaap tilak, Damadam mast
kalander and mesmerized the audience with their unique skill in presentation. A painting
exhibition was organized by Fine Arts students of Jamia Millia Islamia.
DEAA's initiative to explore linkages for the Celebrations of International Art Education
Week 2012, resulted bringing many institutions and individuals together for the implementation
of Seoul Agenda 2010. Four day long celebrations in collaboration with different institutions
helped DEAA, NCERT reach 4000 Plus audience (200 plus teacher and teacher educators and
4000 plus children). The focus of these celebration was to sensitize different stakeholders of
education on Arts Education and its importance in formal sector of education.