LARKANA: Speakers at a two-day Children Literature Festival which concluded here on Thursday stressed the need for providing children opportunities and adequate platforms to nurture their creativity and love for literature.

The festival organised by Idara Taleem-o-Aagahi at the government girls high school featured different sessions on a variety of topics on education, literature, art and science.The sessions were conducted by well-known writers and academics and attended by a large number of students.

Panellists Prof Sarwar Saif, Prof Mukhtiar Samo and Dr Inayat Magsi said at the plenary session on `Motivating children towards books and libraries` which was conducted by poet and writer Dr Adal Soomro, that the book-reading trend had decreased because of declining standard of education.

They said that books were not easily accessible to chil-dren, school libraries were not maintained properly, they usually ran short of books and they lacked adequate furniture to attract students.

They said that schools` syllabus did not emphasise on fostering creativity among children; rather it helped rote learning. Conventional and outdated teaching practices and faulty examination system together with copy culture had belittled books` importance in children`s minds.

They said that children`s literature in Sindhi wasscarce in the market. The government, therefore, should ensure that literary books were published and made easily accessible to children, they said.

Well-known writer Saleem Bhutto Latifee, who conducted session on `Reflections on the poetry of Shah Abdul Latif Bhitai, Sachal Sarmast and Saami` explained the poetry of all three classical poets in simple words to children.

Baela Raza Jamil, organiser of the festival and CEO of Idara Taleem-o-Aagahi, and Rumana Hussain con-ducted a session on `CLF publications: a perspective` and highlighted publications of children`s literature.

Story writer Yameen Baloch conducted a session on `Creative writing` and Naila Gul and Aamra Alam on `Storytelling`.

Earlier, a children`s poetry book in Sindhi Uth mama gogroo was launched.

Young poet Yasir Qazi read out poems from his book and received loud applause from the mostly young audience.

The other sessions were `Importance of non-formal education in Sindh`,Curriculum of peace and hate`, `Bringing our precious heritage to children`, `Art activities`, `Story time`, `How to make origami` and `Theatre time`. These were conducted by Attia Bhutto, Mohammad Idrees, Humera Gaad, Salma Habeeb, Ayoub Gaad, Yasir Qazi and Riazat Buriro.

Children took keen interestin technicalsessions also like `Digital documentary making` and `Interactive academic games for children`. Digital and blended learning session for teachers was also part of the festival.