'Gifted' children to be selected for academic coaching and trained in Kozhikode

The 'Gifted Children' programme initiated by the education department authorities to support and guide students talented in various fields is once again set to be carried out in Kozhikode.

According to the district education authorities, the initiative is being carried out for the overall academic and extracurricular development of students and to encourage them to try a hand in various fields. "The state-wide ‘Gifted Children’ project is usually conducted in the month of January. This year, due to certain reasons we have postponed it to February," said Deputy Director of Education (DDE) E K Suresh Kumar. As part of the initiative, a total of 40 talented students from the district, belonging to class VIII will be shortlisted. The selection will be done on the basis of the score obtained by students in the USS scholarship examination.

Under the ‘Gifted Children’ programme, a two-day camp will be held for these students, at the Regional Science Centre and Planetarium (RSC&P) Kozhikode. A total of 30 to 40 sessions will be held, including making of sand sculptures, night walk, art and music events, competitions, games, seminars and lectures. “ The main focus of these sessions will be an improvement of soft-skills, personality development and career enhancement," he said. The sessions are expected to be handled by subject experts from institutions including National Institute of Technology Calicut (NIT-C), Centre for Water Resources Development and Management (CWRDM) and Indian Institute of Management Kozhikode (IIM-K).

Meanwhile, the district education authorities have informed that a mega quiz programme on ‘Kerala Renaissance’ will be held in Kozhikode on January 5. As many as 400 students divided into teams of two are expected to take part in the programme. The regional-level competition will be held at Thamarassery, Vadakara and Kozhikode educational districts, and the district-level contest at Government Model Higher Secondary School Kozhikode. “ The winners will take part in the state-level finals, " added the DDE