Daijiworld Media Network - Udupi (SM)

Udupi, Mar 15: The Karnataka State Drawing Teachers’ Association kicked off its ninth state-level conference at Ammani Ramana Shetty Memorial Hall on Thursday March 14. The conference will conclude on Friday March 15.

The event was inaugurated by Ragupathi Bhat (MLA) and Vijay Ballal (Ambalpady Temple Dharmadarshi). The chief guest was Laxmivara Threertha Swami of Shiroor Math.

Teachers serving in government, aided, and unaided primary and high school across Karnataka are attending the conference. Problems faced by drawing teachers, salary issues, and importance of drawing in academics will be discussed. There will also be four seminars and an interaction session.

The Swami said students should be given the freedom to enjoy life though academic study is important up to a certain level. “Students should not be pressurized to study as they should also devote time to arts and extracurricular activities. Such activity will relax their mind and body, so schools should give equal importance to academics and extracurricular activities. It is the responsibility of our government to implement education in such a way that both are equal,” he said.

Ganesh Karnik, MLC, Karnataka Legislative Council, said that art and education should blend together with equal importance. “Such conferences should not concentrate on our benefits but we should think of a better way to give quality education,” he added.

Pramod Madhwaraj, president, Block Congress, K L Bhat, president, Drawing Association, Raveendra Nayak, Hanuman Motors, Upendra Nayak, ZP president, and Mohandas Bhat, senior artist, were present.