PRESCHOOLS ON FAST FORWARD Get set to go to high school

JHINUK MAZUMDAR, TT, 07 May 2019:  Can hold a pencil Knows the names of fruits and vegetables and can identify them Follows instructions in English These are some of the must-haves on the checklist of parents whose children go to preschool. Observing the environment can wait. Exploring and learning takes too much time. Calcutta: Parental expectations and high school benchmarks are forcing several preschools in the city to modify teaching methods to produce "concrete results".

High schools lowering the age limit for admission to the pre-primary section has meant children spending a shorter duration in preschools. And within the limited time, the preschools are expected to make the toddlers "high school ready", heads of several preschools said.

Most preschools have ready a list of high schools where parents can apply and many parents treat the intermediary years only as a "waiting platform", teachers said.

The heads of several preschools in the city said they have been forced to fast-forward the teaching method.

In some preschools, writing exercises now start at three years, compared with at least three and a half earlier. Phonics and numbers are also being taught at an earlier age.

The days are fast-paced, too. No A preschool in Calcutta sooner has a child reached school than s/he is engaged in activities. The child has no time to just sit back and observe the environment or assimilate things.

The pressure on preschools is to prepare children to answer some questions, understand instructions or questions in English, recognise animals, vegetables, flowers and have some social skills.

"We have had to alter the curriculum according to the high school requirements. If the children do not get admission to high schools, parents come and ask us on what went wrong," said Chandrika Ramakrishnan, principal, Mongrace New Town.

Preschool teachers also complain about the want of time. Children stay in preschools for a year or at times just six months. There is little time to work with Montessori apparatus or for exercises of practical life (EPL).

"If we were not under pressure that the child would leave shortly, we could have been more relaxed. We are forced to experiment with children because we know that in a high school they will have to hold a pencil and pick up copies. Unless they learn here, they will be in trouble there," said Reeta Basu, the director of Disharee Montessori House.

Basu admitted to diluting the method of teaching. "Earlier, we would use Montessori apparatus and teach about geometrical shapes and solids but now after doing colours and dimension, we start stressing on language and arithmetic. Parents have to be convinced that their child is getting benefited," she said.

"We are a preparatory school and we have to prepare the child. Most children leave when they are three to three and a half. Parents also compare us with other schools," said Nabonita Bose Mukherjee, principal, Bubble Blue Montessori.

Kusum Bhandari, an educationist, said the trend compromised on the free spirit and creativity of the child.