Aesthetic enhancement can ignite passion for learning; let’s take small, impactful steps to create vibrant educational spaces
Our schools in Kashmir are opening in the coming days after a long winter vacation. Let us pledge to make our primary schools appealing to create a sense of pride among the stakeholders.
Most of the primary schools in Kashmir are not appealing and aesthetic, directly affecting the attraction of children, parents, and educators. Campus beautification is the deliberate and strategic effort to enhance the visual appeal and functionality of a school’s physical environment.
The beautification of a school aims to create an environment that not only reflects the institution’s values and identity but also fosters a sense of pride, engagement, and community among its members.
An attractive campus can positively influence the community to enroll children. It creates a supportive and enjoyable learning environment. The biggest problem with our educators is the lack of a sense of ownership of the school. We beautify our homes and leave no stone unturned while forgetting our workplace altogether. The blame squarely lies on us (educators).
The Key Benefits of Beautification and Developing Aesthetic Sense in Our Schools:
– Emotional well-being: It evokes positive emotions, contributing to a student’s sense of fulfillment.
– Enhances creativity: Exposure to art, music, and design encourages students to think creatively.
– Improves critical thinking: Students evaluate and interpret aesthetics, which promotes critical thinking and cultural understanding.
– Improves the learning environment: A visually appealing and well-designed classroom can positively impact student engagement and focus.
The problem with most resource persons in Kashmir is that they borrow beautification ideas from the West using the internet, which is technically impossible and costly in Kashmir at the ground level. They use the concept of BaLA (Building as a Learning Aid) from European countries and try to implement the same here, forgetting the conditions of our schools.
Some Simple Recommendations for Beautification of Our Primary Schools in Kashmir to Develop Aesthetic Sense:
- A Beautiful Washroom with Warm Water:
Every primary school should have a washroom exclusively meant for washing our blooming buds who do not come to school clean in the morning. Managing soap and water is not a big issue. Educators should take responsibility, just as they do for their own children aged 4 to 10.
- Creating a Cultural Corner in School:
A cultural corner can easily be created by collecting items from our locality in Kashmir. This can help link culture with education. These may include Kashmiri Khrav (wooden shoes), Grata (stone grinder), Kangri (earthen fire pot), a piece of Kashmiri carpet (which was once a major source of income), and so on. If a separate room is not available, the cultural corner can be made in the corridor.
- Biography Board Layout:
This is a great way to help students learn how to research and record information about famous people or even book characters. The biography board can be set up in the corridor if a room is not available.
- Painting Pictures on Walls:
Using pictures on walls in primary schools can significantly enhance the learning environment by visually stimulating students and reinforcing concepts taught in class. In almost every primary school in Kashmir, poetic verses of Allama Iqbal (RA) are painted on the walls, which cannot be understood by children aged 4 to 10. What is the benefit of writing such difficult verses on walls?
The key benefits of using pictures on primary school walls include:
– Visual learning support
– Curriculum reinforcement
– Cultural awareness
– Literacy development
– Motivation and engagement
- Calm Classroom Environment:
The classroom in primary schools should be lively and playful. Children should feel free, allowing their imagination and personalities to flourish. The recommendations are:
– Use bright and lively colors.
– Paint furniture with contrasting colors depending on the walls.
– Design a wall in a chalkboard style up to the average height of a child so they are free to draw and write.
– Hang plastic fruits, vegetables and animals in the classroom for children aged 4 to 8.
- Science Corner in the School:
The idea of a science corner is to develop scientific skills and attitudes such as observation, questioning, and hypothesizing. The science corner in our primary schools can be easily managed by displaying a skeleton system, charts, models, etc. This will provide children with a specific learning area where they can explore and play with science-themed materials.
In addition to the above-mentioned recommendations, educators should take care of greenery, flower beds, and cleanliness on school campuses.
I would request that the Government of J&K do away with rented buildings. Many primary schools operate in rented buildings, where educators face difficulties in beautifying the campuses. I would also urge my fellow educators to beautify schools, even if it requires spending from our own pockets. These children belong to us, and we belong to them. Let us learn to own the school mentally and give our 100 percent.
Children respond strongly to beauty, creativity, and art. Let us make our schools places of learning, joy, and inspiration.
The writer is a teacher at the Government Boys Secondary School, Narbal
Muntashir Kifayat
mu**************@***il.com