Bhubaneswar: Art-integrated pedagogy took centre stage at the national-level competition Samriddhi 2025–26 in Bhubaneswar on Tuesday, in line with the National Education Policy 2020. This approach also aligns with the National Curriculum Frameworks for the Foundational Stage (2022) and School Education (2023), according to Prof. Amarendra Prasad Behera, Joint Director, CIET, NCERT, New Delhi.
The competition aims to strengthen art-integrated pedagogy through innovative classroom practices across Indian schools.
Behera inaugurated the three-day competition at the Regional Institute of Education (RIE), NCERT, Bhubaneswar. The programme will continue until January 29.
A total of 98 secondary school teachers from 29 States and Union Territories are participating in the competition. The participants represent Kendriya Vidyalaya Sangathan, Navodaya Vidyalaya Samiti, and Ekalavya Model Residential Schools. They are presenting innovative classroom practices based on art-integrated pedagogy. The award ceremony will take place during the valedictory session on January 29.
In his address, Behera emphasized the importance of holistic and joyful learning. He said art must serve both as a subject and as a teaching method. He encouraged teachers to use storytelling instead of content-heavy instruction. He also said subjects should not be taught in isolation. He cited Indian art forms as tools to explain concepts across disciplines, according to an official statement.
Prof. Manasi Goswami, Principal of RIE Bhubaneswar, highlighted the role of art integration in active learning. She said it improves engagement and understanding among students. She noted that it supports cognitive, skill-based, and psychomotor development. Goswami urged teachers to use poetry, stories, crafts, visuals, and drama in classrooms. She also called for wider adoption in teacher education and higher education.
Prof. Jyotsna Tiwari, Head of the Department of Education in Arts & Aesthetics, spoke about NCERT initiatives such as Kala Utsav. She described it as a national platform for promoting artistic expression. She also noted that Art Education has been introduced as a subject from Grade 3.
