Media Release
Mangaluru, Jun 23: Nehru Chinthana Kendra of Mangalore University successfully conducted a 10-day workshop titled Bala Vikasa at nine government schools adopted under its Rural Outreach Programme. The initiative, held from June 9 to 21, 2024, involved two-day sessions in each school aimed at enhancing academic and personal development among rural students.
The workshop was inaugurated by Raju K Mogaveera, KAS, registrar and director of Nehru Chinthana Kendra. In his address, he stressed the importance of holistic education. “Students should not study merely for exams. Education should help them grow as human beings. To become good individuals, one must read, reflect, and imbibe good values. Bala Vikasa is an effort to promote learning through values and interaction, not just textbooks,” he said.
Students and faculty members from Mangalore University, along with lecturers from government degree colleges, led the sessions. The programme focused on subject enrichment, personality development, and motivational engagement tailored to the needs of government school students.
On June 19, Mangalore University vice chancellor Prof P L Dharma attended the session at Dakshina Kannada Zilla Panchayat Government School, Deralakatte. He interacted with the students and said, “Many successful people have emerged from government schools. You are fortunate to be in one. Make the best use of it. Every child is unique, and developing listening skills will help shape a strong personality.”
The sessions featured motivational talks, interactive discussions, and academic classes in English grammar, Kannada grammar, science, mathematics, and social science. These were conducted by university students and faculty, as well as lecturers from government first grade colleges in and around Mangaluru.
The schools covered during the outreach included Dakshina Kannada Zilla Panchayat Government Higher Primary Schools at Konaje, Urumane–Manjanady, Inoli, Rajagudde, and Deralakatte, as well as Government High Schools at Newpadpu, Konaje Padavu, Pavoor, and Sri Ramakrishna Aided High School, Harekala.
The Bala Vikasa workshop aimed to bridge the gap between higher education and grassroots schooling. By fostering curiosity, confidence, and core values, the programme turned learning into an engaging and empowering experience for rural students.