The Ashako Kiran Child Care Center [Kindergarten] now hosts 77 children from nursery level through to first grade. It is such a joy to see all the students arrive in the morning in their school uniform! Prior to the establishment of the Kindergarten, the children of Daldale did not have a chance to attend school until first or second grade. Now everyone agrees that the school has changed the life of the little pupils and their families.

Aside from the necessary intellectual stimulation and the benefits of an early exposure to English, the Kindergarten plays a vital role in the development of these students. Many do not benefit from a balanced nutrition at home and are quite ignorant about basic hygiene practices.  At the Kindergarten, they are fed a meal everyday, and they learn to connect cleanliness with health. Daily homework assignments, regular testing and an award system teach them the value of hard work. The dedication of all five teachers’ is noteworthy and, following their example, the bigger children naturally come to assist their younger peers.

Several of the teachers recently received Montessori training and they have hence started to shift to a more practical approach, away from the local habit of learning by heart. They have incorporated more songs and games and they have also added some drawings and posters to illustrate the lessons. The teachers actively seek student participation by asking questions and inviting students to the blackboard to complete exercises with the help of their peers. It will obviously take more time and resources to fully implement the Montessori method, but this focus on student engagement sets solid foundations for the future academic success of these children.

The students like their school and are quite proud of it. Many arrive early in the morning so they have a chance to play, sing and dance with their friends before classes start. Parents are equally thankful for the opportunity given to their children and they have also shown a high level of support for the school.

Article by Emmanuelle Gounot               Date: 18th July 2009