The Hindu : Karnataka / Bangalore News : ‘We will consider regularising Montessori education in State’

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Monday, Sep 29, 2008
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Karnataka

Karnataka - Bangalore

‘We will consider regularising Montessori education in State’

Staff Reporter

There has been no formal structure to train directors of such schools

Programme to offer technical expertise
It will be for those with diploma certificates

— Photo: K. Murali Kumar

NEED RECOGNISED: Meenakshi Sivaramakrishnan (left), Secretary General, Indian Montessori Centre, with Vishweshwar Hegde Kageri, Minister for Primary and Secondary Education, and B.V.A. Rao, Chairman, Indian Montessori Centre, at the inauguration of a training centre in Bangalore on Sunday.

BANGALORE: The Government will take the proposal to regularise Montessori education with the Indian Montessori Centre (IMC) as a recommendatory authority (along the lines of the Tamil Nadu model) to strengthen this sector, Primary and Secondary Education Minister Vishweshwar Hegde Kageri said at the launch of the Montessori Director’s Training centre.

This centre will be the first of its kind in Asia. Though such programmes are being conducted informally, there has been no formal structure to train directors (or trainers) of Montessori schools.

So far, the IMC has awarded certificates to three such directors. Secretary General of IMC Meenakshi Sivaramakrishnan said this programme would offer the necessary technical and intellectual expertise required to establish, operate and manage a training course, and train excellent trainers of teachers.

Regularisation

Recognising the need for this form of education, Mr. Kageri said that not enough attention is being paid to the pre-school years. Nearly 10 months ago, the IMC proposed to help regularise Montessori education in Karnataka. In Tamil Nadu, the IMC acts as a recommendatory body which facilitates authorisation and regularisation of institutions offering Montessori education.

“With growing awareness on child-centred education, there is a need for such programmes. We hope our efforts will help,” said Chairman of IMC B.V.A. Rao.

Ali Khwaja of Banjara Academy spoke about the need for a stress-free model in schools today. “We have inherited an education system that is not our own. Any system must focus on seven intelligences for the overall development of a child.

“Then why is it that our schools insist on looking only at the mathematical or linguistic skills?” Dr. Khwaja asked.

Programme

The new programme will be open to those who have a recognised Montessori diploma and a minimum of three years of work experience at a Montessori school.

On the completion of the course candidates will be awarded the Directors’ Certificate by IMC.

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