Schools welcome NEP pre-primary rules, say formalization necessary
Kolkata: The news that three years of pre-school will now be a part of formal schooling, according to the new National Education Policy guidelines has left both educators and parents happy. After years of uncertainty about how kids going to pre-schools should be hand-held into the portals of education, finally clear guidelines are expected, they said.
La Martiniere schools, St James, Modern High, South Point are some city schools that run pre-primary sections and have hailed the change because it is expected to ring in uniformity based on scientific methods. “Children are going to schools very early and the government now recognizes that pre-schools have to be formalized. A realistic practical curriculum is expected, focusing on skill development, to make the transition into the primary department smoother and better structured,” said Aban Confectioner, head of the primary and junior department, Modern High School for Girls.
A curriculum was loosely followed in the pre-school sections of formal schools that would dovetail into the primary system. “However, now it would be formalized and we will have a national guideline to fall back upon,” said Krishna Damani, spokesperson of South Point School.
Most pre-schools now follow informal rules that have been laid down by two bodies — Early Childhood Association and India Montessori Foundation. The ECA had been pushing the Centre for this formalization and has expressed its joy. “It was a matter of concern that pre-schools are largely not governed by any authority, not any more,” said Suman Sood, national core committee member of the association.
Keeping with the present trend, most pre-schools have started online classes for kids between two and five-plus. Most have perfected modules keeping in mind that at this age it is difficult to hold their attention for long.
At Modern High School, it took three months before the pre-schoolers were hand-held to the screen by parents. Kids are given worksheets, along with a practice schedule of the written work like joining the dots, colouring, pattern writing etc. During online class, kids listen to stories, introduction of the letters through sound/phonics, colour identification, singing, rhyming and craft.
Pre-school kids are playing with dough/clay, pre-writing on slates, having a messy time with their salt trays and squishy bags in the online classes of Kangaroo Kids, Kankurgachhi, as they would in the real classroom, said Khushbu Agarwal, owner.
Parents at all branches of Little Laureates were trained for three months on online teaching techniques and classes have now started. “It’s a new platform and has to be carefully introduced and cannot happen without parents partnering us.” explained CEO Tamal Mukherjee.
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