Kashmir educators honoured for championing theatre-based learning

Srinagar, July 11: Directorate of School Education Kashmir (DSEK), in partnership with Piramal Foundation and the National School of Drama (NSD), felicitated 53 Master Facilitators at a convocation ceremony for completing the “Theatre in Education” professional development program. As per the statement issued, this initiative is aligned with the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020, champions theatre as a transformative pedagogical tool to foster creativity, empathy, and resilience in classrooms.The event, attended by Director of School Education Kashmir, Dr. G.N. Itoo; Joint Director (Central), Syed Shabir Ahmad; NSD Registrar, Pradeep Kumar Mohanty; and Zeeshan Hassan, Senior Program Director at Piramal Foundation, underscored a shared vision to integrate arts into education. “Theatre-based pedagogy ignites imagination, builds confidence, and nurtures emotional intelligence,” said Dr. Itoo, urging continued collaboration to create resilient classrooms for Kashmir’s students.NSD’s Mohanty emphasized theatre’s unique role in Kashmir, stating, “Theatre empowers communities to heal, reconnect, and reclaim their stories, offering students safe spaces to express and process their realities.” The convocation featured keynote addresses, teacher reflections, and certificate distribution, marking a milestone in blending Kashmir’s cultural heritage with innovative pedagogy. This initiative promises to nurture expressive, empathetic, and resilient young citizens through the power of theatre.