Kindergarten and Preschools have mushroomed in the city at an incredibly rapid rate. This reveals the fast paced nature of Guwahati and exponential population growth. Most of the nuclear families have both parents holding hectic jobs. The life of a child in a kindergarten or a preschool is the first instance when children are separated from the comfort and security of their parents.
Therefore, it is imperative that the school be a second home to the child; a place which has enough material to attract and make the child feel comfortable and secure. G Plus explores the city’s popular preschools and identifies how things are being done differently.
Establishment
The preschools and quality education
Culture Club, a preschool located in Zoo Road provides quality controlled education to the kids. To change the existing system of preschools, Culture Club offers co-curricular activities along with preschool education so that children have an all-round development and ensures their wellbeing. The school program introduces English, Maths, Science and Social Skills in a natural sequence to nourish learning one step at a time.
“We teach the students both playing and learning so that they do not feel pressurised with studies. These are very small children and they should be taught without stress and therefore we teach them in ways where they can enjoy the learning process,” said Nikhil Mozika, Administrative Head of Culture Club.
(A photo of Culture Club, Guwahati located at R. G Baruah Road)
Mozika said that the children should be safe and secured. Most of the preschools in the city do not follow requisite norms and they do not fall under a government department for which such schools do not come under scrutiny. However, the administration has come out with the rule after a high court order that the schools need to be registered under the administration. Culture Club provides innovative and enriched learning environment for kids and focuses on developmental skills that are known predictors of later success in school and beyond. The school provides education with smart classes - with the latest education technology in each class to assist the teachers and students.
Moreover, Euro Kids, another pre-school in the city trains the children not only in formal education but also grooms the children to be valuable assets to the society. “Pre-school is not only meant for formal education. Formal education can be given by all schools but the most important thing is that a child should be groomed in a way that they should learn how to behave with the people as they grow up. We train them scientifically so that the children can gain not only the formal education, but also the education which could groom them as best a person as they can be. We have a parent-children programme where we also teach the parents on how they should deal with children,” said Purabi Talukdar, Principal of Euro Kids, Bharalumukh Branch.
On an average, most schools have 1 teacher per 10 students, a healthy ratio. There are other pre-schools in the city that offer other extracurricular activities and have interactive elements such as a farm house, doll house and storytelling sessions which apparently help the children concentrate in their studies.
Tender Petals, a kindergarten school in the city, provides play method of teaching the children by trained Montessori teachers. ‘Nurturing through love’ - this method enables the child to grow at their individual pace and motivate them to involve and absorb. There are several identified methods which are used by these schools and its application helps the overall and holistic growth of the children. Some of these methods are Montessori method, Playway method, Multiple Intelligence, Psychosocial Development, Thematic, Project Method and Development of Intelligence. Five skills for holistic development are also identified as creativity, cognizance, language, sensomotor and personality.
The Issues
Several kindergarten schools have mushroomed in the city without adhering to any norms and objectives which may be detrimental, and at times deprive a child from the right education. Childhood care and education of children until the completion 6 years of age has been made a directive principle and therefore the high court has issued an order to submit all the relevant documents in the administration’s website www.kamrupmetro.in. Section 18 of the Act, which describes the admission and fees, states that a child who has not attained the age of 5 years shall not be admitted to Class 1, an equivalent class or any class higher than Class 1. A student seeking admission in non-government educational institution in any class higher than Class 1 shall have to submit original Transfer Certificate from the recognised school where the student studied last to the head of the non-government educational institution where admission is sought. Admission of students in non-government educational institution shall be made without any distinction of religion, race, caste, creed or any of them.
Every recognised non-government educational institution shall reserve 5% seats for admission of meritorious pupils hailing from poor families as recommended by director in this behalf. Such pupils shall be selected as per norms to be prescribed. The students admitted against the reserved quota as provided in sub-section shall pay such fees as may be fixed by the director in consultation with the concerned school authority on receipt of an application from the pupil in this behalf.
Although there are a lot of kindergarten schools of the city, it is a cause for concern as there is no defined jurisdiction for these schools and the Gauhati High Court has also made a statement that the schools are running without following proper guidelines. There are also several loopholes in the pre-primary schools and it is doubtful whether the students are being provided quality education. Several city schools lack fitness certificates, proper infrastructure like fire safety or other disasters and such facilities are crucial for parents when they hand the lives of their little ones in the hands of an establishment.
Pre-school is not for formal education but to groom children for future so that they can be better human beings Most of the pre-schools provide extracurricular activities to develop the children in all fields Culture Club pre-school has smart classrooms well equipped with television and play kits Play method of teaching is used in the preschools.