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Teachers script a success story

SPECIAL ACHIEVEMENT: A scene from Kalivilakku, a documentary by the teachers of Vivekodayam Lower Primary School at Pudusserykkadavu in Wayanad district on the high dropout rate from schools among tribal children.

Teachers and students of Vivekodayam Lower Primary School at Pudusserykkadavu in Wayanad district are celebrating a special achievement. A documentary by the school’s teachers, “Kaivilakku,” will be screened in the International Documentary and Short Film Festival to be organised by the Kerala Chalachithra Academy in Thiruvananthapuram from June 19 to June 26.

The 25-minute documentary reveals the experience of a group of teachers, when they attempted to find out the reasons for the high dropout rate from schools among tribal children, especially of the Paniya tribe. The documentary is the result of a two-year long effort put in by the teachers, says M.P. Cheriyan, the headmaster.

The Paniya tribe has its own ethnic language, culture and folk literature, says P. Beena, a teacher and also the script-writer and director of the documentary. “They express themselves quite confidently within their community. But, when their children join school, they do not feel at ease with the new culture. The language too which is unfamiliar to them,” Ms. Beena adds.

This sense of alienation led to many tribal children dropping out of school in the district. “When we introduced a new curriculum, rooted in the culture and language of the Paniya tribe, we were able to curb the dropout considerably,” she says.

The documentary also points out the causes of segregation of tribal people from the mainstream and depicts the harsh realities of tribal life, apart from giving a colourful portrayal of their rituals and festivals. Shaly Aravind wielded the camera and sub-titles are by K. Padmarajan.

It will be screened at Sree Theatre in Thiruvananthapuram on June 24.

E.M. Manoj

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