Bengaluru: Focus on social skills, aptitude, doctors tells schools

BENGALURU: Engrossing musical performances, an enlightening talk on health, a hands-on activity and a lively interaction, all this and more made for an interesting session at the Times NIE Principals ' Seminar, held in association with Gyan Pro, C for Commerce and Vidyashilp University, in Bengaluru on Tuesday.

That music is a great stress-buster is well known and proved to be an apt opening for the seminar. The topic for discussion was, 'A sound mind and health is the key to a healthy school environment'.

The opening musical show by young artists from SAPA elevated the mood of the gathering from the beginning. Singer and special guest Kavita Krishnamurti Subramaniam, whose students were among the performers, spoke about how music not only teaches patience and builds focus, but is also a great stress-reliever. "I would love to see music in every child's life," she said, urging principals to ensure students are exposed to music.

Keynote speaker Dr Sudarshan Ballal, chairman of Manipal Hospitals, while acknowledging that stress levels are high among students, urged schools to focus on developing social skills. Social interactions help reduce stress levels and lead to a healthy society, he told the gathering of over 200 principals.

Principals, as mentors of the future, have to ensure the well-being of students. Lifestyle issues have become the bane of society and Dopamine addiction is on the rise, Dr Ballal said, suggesting schools build a robust support system and hold open conversations without being judgemental. Sleep disorders, sadness, sex education, substance abuse, sedentary lifestyle were among the many other issues he focused on, while also emphasising the importance of preventive health checkups for all.

During the interaction that followed, Dr Ballal said mental health issues are on the rise. Teachers must look out for indicative signs like changes in behavioural pattern, reclusiveness, eating disorders and so on. Any change from the normal should be taken seriously, he said. "A flaw of our education system is that we lay a lot of importance on academic performance. Instead, we should focus on the aptitude of a child and build on his/her skills, especially social skills," he said.

It is important that sex education is taught in schools. "Instead of them learning from wrong sources, schools should facilitate it, if needed with help from doctors, counsellors and sex educators," he added.

Gyan Pro CEO Supreet Kittenkere spoke about the immense impact principals have on kids. He engaged the principals in an activity, making a spectroscope. CEO of C for Commerce N Muralidharan spoke about the uniqueness of setting up finance labs that ensure immersive learning. Associate director, outreach and admissions, career services at Vidyashilp University Shyam Kumar, also addressed the gathering.