J&K SCERT launches Toycathon 2023 titled ‘Promotion of innovative ideas, revival of local heritage’

STATE TIMES NEWS

JAMMU: The State Council of Educational Research and Training (SCERT) Jammu and Kashmir on Friday launched Toycathon 2023 on the theme line: Promotion of innovative ideas and revival of local heritage at J&K board of School Education, Rehari Colony, Jammu.
Alok Kumar, Principal Secretary School Education Department presided over the function and Dr B.S Sahai, Director IIM Jammu graced the occasion as Chief Guest held under the convenorship of Prof. Parikshat Singh Manhas, Director SCERT and Chairman, J&K Board of School Education.
The brochure of Toycathon 2023 was jointly launched by the Director SCERT J&K, Prof. (Dr.) Parikshat Singh Manhas along with the chief guest and other dignitaries. Toycathon 2023focuses on developing toys and games that reflect the innovative ideas, use of regional resources and revival of our local heritage. The registration link along with the QR code was unveiled and declared open for submission of entries.
Dr. B.S Sahai stressed on the importance of creativity and critical thinking among the young minds and he appreciated the initiative of the launch of Toycathon for school children by JKSCERT.
Prof. Parikshat highlighted the importance and need of toys and games for making education holistic, joyful and experiential. He impressed upon the initiative of designing toys and games to leverage the potential of toys and games in making learning engaging and enjoyable across all ages. The programme aimed at exploring rich cultural heritage of Jammu and Kashmir through redesigning/rediscovering toys and games, with innovative ideas. He further added that to achieve all our goals as per NEP 2020, being one nation, we have to make our indigenous toys more popular all over the world as these are in consonance with both tradition and nature so that Indian value system, Indian culture and our eco-friendly approach towards the things can be visioned globally.
He said Toycathon 2023 is an event of learning by experimentation and creative activity. Toys and games introduce children to a scientific method of working i.e. the basis of innovation.
The Programme focused on creating awareness among the educators to realize the importance and role of toys and games to make teaching learning process effective and experiential, also acting as tool of culturization, developing 21st century skills among the children. The concept for the Preparation of Toys/ Games for the Toycathon event should be based on the following themes: Regional Culture- Historical events, Heritage and regional freedom fighters, out-of-the box creative, logical and scientific thinking, learning, education and schooling, social and human values, occupation and its specific fields, environment, rediscovering traditional local toys, any toys/ games applicable for specially abled child and fun based toys for joyful learning.
During the launch of the event, Schools, JKSCERT KD and DIETs across JK UT were connected through live Youtube streaming and Google meet for facilitating the maximum participation in the event.
The Toycathon event will be held under three categories i.e. class 6th to 8th, class 9th to 10th and class 11th to 12th in four phases. Participants should register themselves in the event through google form and submit the ideas in the prescribed format. Participants should make toy/game as per the themes mentioned.
The last date of submission of ideas is 25th July, 2023. The Grand finale of the event will be held in the month of September/October, 2023.
The dignitaries who graced the event included Kanta Devi, Special Secretary SED, Anu Behl, Special Secretary SED, Iftikhar Hussain Chauhan, Director Finance, Er. Deep Raj Kanathia, Project Director Samagra, Ashok Kumar Sharma, Director School Education Jammu, Subah Mehta, Joint Director DSE, I/C Jt. Dir. Fayaz Ahmed Fayaz, Director Academics JKBOSE, Joint Secretary Examination JKBOSE, Joint Secretary Secrecy JKBOSE, CEO Jammu and DIET Principal Jammu.
Tassaduq Hussain, Director School Educator Kashmir, Mohd Shareef Dedar Joint Director JKSCERT divisional office Kashmir connected through online mode.
H R Pakhroo Joint Director JKSCERT Divisional Office Jammu presented vote of thanks whereby he thanked all the dignitaries and applauded the efforts of team Toycathon. Monica Sharma, Academic Officer, JKSCERT moderated the programme. Prof. Swaran Singh Jaral, Prof. Surjeet Sharma, Associate Professors N.P Singh, Kishore Kumar, Romi Kumar and Dr Neeraj Jandialalong with other faculty members of JKSCERTJD were also present on the occasion.