INTACH Mangaluru and Art Kanara Trust observe International Day of Education

Mangalore Today News Network

Mangaluru, January 29, 2025: The Mangaluru Chapter of the Indian National Trust for Art and Cultural Heritage (INTACH) in association with Art Kanara Trust observed International Day of Education with a dialogue on basic education with experimental educationist Krishna on Friday, January 24, 2025, at 6:00 PM at the Kodialguthu Centre for Art and Culture, Ballalbagh.

An architect by training, Krishna is the co-founder of Thulir School, an experimental institution located in the remote village of Sittilingi in Tamil Nadu’s Dharmapuri district. Established in 2003 as an after-school learning centre, Thulir initially catered to tribal, Dalit, and Lambadi children and adults. In 2017, it evolved into a formal primary school serving the Adhivasi children of the region.

During the session, Krishna shared his journey, explaining how a visit to the Sittilingi valley exposed him to the educational challenges faced by the local Adhivasi families. Although a government school existed, it lacked basic facilities and failed to meet the community’s needs. Responding to a request from the villagers, Krishna and his wife, Anuradha, established Thulir on an acre of land with two thatched huts. The centre provided village children the freedom to explore subjects of interest after school hours and helped them develop basic technical skills. It also hosted theme-based camps.

“From my experience, early education is crucial for a child’s development. Unfortunately, teaching is a low-paying profession in our country and fails to attract the best talent,” Krishna stated. “In countries like Finland, teaching is a highly valued and respected profession. Teacher training programmes there are as rigorous as those for doctors. We need a similar approach to education in our country.”

Subhas Chandra Basu, Convener of the INTACH Mangaluru Chapter, welcomed the gathering and moderated the session.