As a child is growing up, parents are constantly worried about their education. All they want for their child is great educated and well-rounded development. When Suchita Narvekar’s curiosity for good education for her daughter, Bhumee, got the better of her, she used her research to write a Konkani drama, ‘Kani Navya Yugachi’. Just after one show of the drama at Rajiv Kala Mandir, Ponda, the response has been so tremendous that Goans are requesting for the drama at more venues. The drama focuses on the New Education Policy and how it will impact the education of children in the future.
The National Education Policy (NEP) aim to
reform the education system in the country and bring about new structure in
higher education sector where all colleges/institution will gradually move
towards full autonomy. NEP was approved by the Union Cabinet of India on July
29, 2020, in early August 2021, Karnataka, became the first state to issue an
order with regard to implementing NEP. The other Indian states that will
implement the NEP in phased manner include Madhya Pradesh, Uttar Pradesh,
Telangana, Maharashtra, Andhra Pradesh, Rajasthan and Assam.
This August, Chief Minister Pramod Sawant
informed that the Goa Government has started working on the implementation of
the National Education Policy in the state and the implementation has already
begun in the state-run and aided schools. However, information has to be
accessible for the parents to be well informed about the policy. One way to
sending out the right message is through drama.
Under Kala Chetana Volvoi, the drama is directed by Sushant Naik
and music is by Akshay Naik, who also sang the songs. It is produced by Rajdeep
Naik and written by Suchita Narvekar. The cast includes Rajdeep Naik, Rajesh
Pyarelal, Prashanti Chari, Ramanand Naik, Mohandas Naik and Nigam Naik.
Suchita Narvekar is a noted name in the world of Konkani and
Marathi theatre in Goa and has been a part of Kala Chetana Volvoi, which also
celebrates 25 years this year. Over the last ten years, she has written ten
dramas, ‘Kani Navya Yugachi’ being the tenth one. “My daughter is two and a
half years old and when I reading about what education to start for her, I was
telling my husband, Rajdeep, that there are different educational options
including home schooling. It is an unnecessary pressure on the child and the
parents when they have to conform to the set rules and I was always convincing
Rajdeep for home-schooling. According to Right to Education, a child can be
taught at home but have to clear their Class 10 examinations. Within a few
months, the announcement came about the change in the education policy through
NEP. I started reading about it and even attended workshops about how the
policy will be changing. Then, I realised that there are so many parents who
must be going through the stress and I can decimate this knowledge through a
well written, comedy yet simple drama. We have a saying in Konkani, ‘hasta
hasta chimto kaddop’, the same way this drama will also show how important NEP
is for children,” says Suchita.
Rajdeep Naik has been the face of many Konkani movies and is
also famed for his short videos on social media, ‘Hello Vasanti,’ which
focusses on various social and political issues. A founding member of Kala
Chetana Volvoi, he is quite proud of presenting over 70 dramas under the banner
with over 10,000 shows in Goa and Maharashtra. “I feel that educational
experts, teachers, parents and even students should watch the drama. After
India’s Independence, the education policy was changed in 1968 followed by a
change in 1986. Since then, we have been educated with the same old syllabus
while the world’s outlook has changed drastically. This is a great change as
the new policy will be implemented after 36 years. The Konkani drama was well
received as even Governor of Himachal Pradesh, Rajendra Arlekar called me and
expressed his appreciation and wishes. He also informed that they are trying to
implement this policy in Himachal Pradesh. But through the drama, we can reach
out to every village in Goa and create awareness. The entertainment quotient with
great comedy is always there but drama is also focusing on the right
information reaching a wider audience. The drama was also attended by Shailesh
Zingade, Director of Directorate of Education in Goa,” says Rajdeep.
The story of the drama revolves around a set of twins and with a
difference of opinion, the parents bring them up with two methods of teaching.
While the mother emphasises on the child’s preferences and liking, the father
follows the traditional system of education and forcing the child to follow the
rules. “It’s the modern version of the Tortoise and the Hare. Now the world is
a corporate world and it requires unity and team work to get ahead in life. You
cannot force a child who wants to become a sportsperson to study geography and
history. He\she will definitely not score well in the exams and at the end of
the academic year, they will face disappointment. The NEP is changing for the
better of the child,” says Rajdeep.
Headmistress of Government High School (GHS), Morpirla, Maria
Murena Miranda, was awarded the National Award to Teachers for this year and
she received her award in New Delhi on Teacher’s Day, September 5. With an
exceptional record of 100 percent results for seven consecutive years, Maria
understand the difficulties of the students and is looking forward to the New
Education Policy. She says, “Goa will definitely implement the New Education
Policy in a phased manner. We must look at it positively as it is focussing on
a child friendly learning environment. The policy will focus on universal
access at all levels of schooling from pre-primary school to class 12,
promotion of multilingualism and power of language in teaching and learning.
Life skills such as communication, cooperation, teamwork and resilience and
focus on regular formative assessment for learning rather than summative
assessment. There are many advantages to the new policy like early childhood
care, inclusive education for all, promotion of Indian languages, art and
culture, use of technology, experimental learning, and flexibility in choosing
subjects for students and introduction of vocational education.”
The
drama, ‘Kani Navya Yugachi’ will be performed on October 21 at Ravindra Bhavan,
Sanquelim at 8 pm, on October 22 at Ravindra Bhavan, Margao at 8.15 pm and on
October 30 at Ravindra Bhavan, Curchorem at 8 pm. The drama will also be
performed at the Morjim Panchayat post Diwali.