Universities and schools have made a shift to online platforms during the nation-wide lockdown but most school students are not copping well with being forced to remain indoors.
Understanding this tough situation for school students, second-year computer application (BCA) students of Marian College Kuttikkanam (Autonomous) conducted a contest for the students of St Mary's UPS, Kanchiyar of Idukki district.
The contest titled 'Break With Marian' was conducted in association with the extension department of the college and Parents Teachers Association of the school. "Our motive was to engage school students creatively amid lockdown and to provide them a different experience," said Rincy George (Coordinator, Break with Marian).
Fifty students from classes 5-7 were the participants of the contest conducted from April 23-28. They were given five different tasks, one on each day. All the tasks were given through WhatsApp accounts of parents. "It was a healthy competition as they find it an easy way to be engaged. The contest also helped in making students aware of the importance to stay indoors," said Jins Joseph, of St. Mary's UPS.
One of the tasks named 'Know the Nature' directed students to create a vegetable garden and to send a report on how they intend to maintain the same.
With the task 'Talent Show,' students got an opportunity to find out their hidden talents and to visualize them. They were asked to make use of the talents such as dance, music, painting, poem, story etc to portray COVID-19 pandemic.
A quiz was conducted as the last task of the contest to make students aware of the significance of technology.
"The contest was a platform for the students to discover the hidden talents in them. Some of them find it as a platform to polish their talents", Albin Martin, one of the coordinators remarked. "They also got the opportunity to practice household works by helping their parents", he added.
Gia Theres Joseph, Angel Sunny and Nileena Boby won the first, second ,and third prize respectively.