Aiming to make artists skilled teachers, a one-year diploma course ‘Shikshapoorna’ was recently inaugurated on the digital platform. The online ceremony was presided over by Natyacharaya VP Dhananjayan and Shanta Dhananjayan.
Shikshapoorna, which means ‘complete education’, is the latest offering from Palakkad-based Darshan Educational and Charitable Trust, a master franchise of the Planning Commission of the Government of India, established in 1952. The course is designed to provide art teachers with an in-depth understanding of pedagogy, filling a long-standing gap in formal teaching methodologies of art.
The visionary behind this initiative, Dr CP Unnikrishnan, is a human physiologist, trained life science teacher, amateur Kathakali Vesham artiste and Natyashastra pandit. “Teaching any subject requires a strong grounding in pedagogy. While we have many instructors in various art forms, very few have had formal pedagogical training,” he explains.
The curriculum they have designed covers a wide range of topics including the essentials of pedagogy, body awareness, injury prevention, structured exercise regimes, nutrition, lesson creation and performance evaluation. The 72-hour course will be delivered over 48 weekly classes, balancing broad subject matter with flexibility for working artists.
Shikshapoorna aims to address several challenges faced in art education, ranging from poor teaching methodology to physical problems seen in trainees. Moreover, it aligns with the growing trend of art-integrated education, preparing artists for potential interdisciplinary roles in academic settings.
As the landscape of art education evolves, Shikshapoorna plays a vital role in shaping the next generation of art teachers. This course promises to not only enhance the quality of teaching but also safeguard the physical well-being of aspiring artists.
For more details please mail to bharathamuni@gmail.com.
