J&K CERT launches Toycathon 2023 titled “Promotion of innovative ideas, …local heritage” – Times of India

Jammu, May 12: Jammu and Kashmir Council of Educational Research and Training (JKCERT) today launched Toycathon 2023 with theme line “Promotion of innovative ideas and revival of local heritage” at J&K Board of School Education.
Principal Secretary, School Education, Alok Kumar, presided over the function while Director IIM Jammu, Dr B.S Sahai, was the guest of honour.
The event was held under the supervision of Director, SCERT and Chairman, J&K Board of School Education, Professor Parikshat Singh Manhas.
The brochure of Toycathon 2023 was launched by the Principal Secretary in presence of Director SCERT J&K and Director IIM Jammu besides other dignitaries.
Toycathon 2023 focuses on developing toys and games that reflect the innovative ideas, use of regional resources and revival of our local heritage. The registration link along with the QR code was unveiled and declared open for submission of entries on the occasion.
In his address the guest of honour Dr B S Sahai stressed on the importance of creativity and critical thinking among the young minds. He also appreciated the initiative of launch of Toycathon for school children by JKCERT.
Speaking on the occasion, Professor Parikshat Singh Manhas highlighted the importance and need of toys and games for making education holistic, joyful and experiential. He said that the programme aimed at exploring rich cultural heritage of Jammu and Kashmir through redesigning/rediscovering toys and games, with innovative ideas.
He said Toycathon 2023 is an event of learning by experimentation and creative activity. Toys and games introduce children to a scientific method of working i.e. the basis of innovation.
The Programme focused on creating awareness among the educators to realize the importance and role of toys and games to make teaching learning process effective and experiential and toys/ games applicable for specially abled child and fun based toys for joyful learning.
The Toycathon event will be held under three categories i.e. class 6th to 8th, class 9th to 10th and class 11th to 12th in four phases. The participants should register themselves in the event through google form and submit the ideas in the prescribed format. They should make toy/game as per the themes mentioned. The last date of submission of ideas is 25th July, 2023. The Grand finale of the event will be held in the month of September/October, 2023.