Kozhikode: Director of Public Instruction (DPI) K.V. Mohan Kumar says the Kerala State School Kalolsavam has become a festival of rivalry and cheap politics staged by parents, teachers and trainers to which innocent students fall prey.
The DPI has now decided to restructure its conduct from next edition including the cost cutting on each competition item.
In the wake of fresh reports of nepotism and corruption ahead of the 57th Kerala School Kalolsavam in Kannur on January 16, the general education department has decided not to reveal details of the judging panel in advance.
“Even the selected panellists are unaware of the category of competition that they are going to judge,” Mr Kumar told DC.
“Soon after the Kalolsavam here, on February 8, we are calling a high-level meeting with representatives of the various political parties, teacher’s organisations and experts from the Government cultural institutions to make a new manual.
“The department is totally shameful about the way the Kalolsavam is being conducted. Recently I came to know that a trainer was taking Rs 1 lakh from one student in addition to a gold chain and expensive attires for the people who watch the performance of that particular student.”
“In the new manual,” he said “we will make sure that no student is affected financially or emotionally because of the Kalolsavam. All those changes that have been witnessed in the art forms all these years will be reviewed seeking expert views. For example, Gazal experts have pointed out the wrong pattern adopted in Kalolsavam. The same is with traditional percussion instruments. A systematic method will be implemented in all the art forms, and new guidelines and regulations will be introduced with the recommendations of experts.”
Talking about the conduct of the festival for this edition, he said, “Some events like Mappilapattu and Oppana, the experts are limited but still we have made sure that no judges in any of these items are continuing as a judge for the fourth consecutive year. We ensured to bring new judging panel this year, chosen from the Government cultural institutions like Kerala Sangeetha Nataka Akademi, fine arts and Chalachitra Academy”. Vigilance, Kerala police and even the organising committee will have a close watch on the new judging panel.
