The State Government has doubled the prize money for the State Special School Arts Fest, Education Minister P K Abdu Rabb said on Wednesday. He was inaugurating the 16th edition of the festival at the Government Vocational Higher Secondary School, Manacaud.
“The prize money for the first three places has been doubled and schools participating in the event will get Rs 2500 each, the minister said. Grace marks also will be awarded to the participants, he said.
Over 2000 students from 83 schools are participating in the Special School Arts Fest this year. The events are being held in three categories; the mentally challenged, the visually impaired and hearing impaired students.
Contests are being held in 90 events on seven stages at three venues; the Government Vocational HSS, Manacaud, GTTI, Manacaud, and the Govt VHSS for Deaf, Jagathy. Folk dance, Mohiniyattom, group dance, light music, pencil drawing, group song and patriotic songs were held for the mentally challenged students on Wednesday. Mono-act for girls and boys took place in the hearing impaired category. Corporation Opposition leader Johnson Joseph, District Panchayat vice-president Rufus Daniel and HSE director Keshavendra Kumar were also present in the function.