Go right ahead, minister
Parents, teachers, psychologists in city give thumbs up to Union HRD Minister Kapil Sibal’s plan to raise admission age to nursery from three years to four
By Yogesh Avasthi
Posted On Wednesday, February 17, 2010 (http://www.ahmedabadmirror.com/index.aspx?Page=article§name=News%20-%20City§id=3&contentid=2010021720100217034050627a9990d1c)
Union HRD Minister Kapil Sibal’s proposal to increase the minimum age of admissions to nursery to four years has found an echo among educationists, psychologists and parents in Ahmedabad.
The race among parents to put pressure on children to study at an early age not only impedes their mental growth but also curbs their overall development, they say.
Currently, three-year-old kids could be admitted to nursery.
Play groups are tension groups
Anju Musafir, founder of Mahatma Gandhi International School, feels “play groups” have become “tension groups” and the impatience of the parents to get quick results for the money they pay restricts the development of the children and their ability to enjoy themselves.
Musafir said in countries like Finland, the formal education process starts only after the child turns seven. “For six years the child stays home and learns things that no school will be able to teach. The kind of overall development possible at home at that age is not possible in schools,” she said.
Parents want to speed up development
“Under the old education system in India, children used to go to school only after they were six or seven years, but at present children are put under stress right from play groups. Besides, even if the play groups wish to slow down the development process, parents insist they want their child to learn alphabets and numbers,” Musafir said.
This is making Indian kids irritated, Musafir said adding that if the state took a decision to increase the age for admissions in nursery, she would be the first to support it.
Don’t rob children of their childhood
Psychologist Suresh Majmudar feels that parents are competing with each other to rob kids of their childhood instead of nurturing their growth of a child. Children are not developed either mentally or physically at a time when they are pushed into a play group. “These days a child does not even know how to grip a pencil properly and he is made to write in schools,” he said.
Majmudar said a child is mentally ready for reading and writing when he or she turns six. He strongly recommended letting children play when they are young. He said children develop concentration power at age six when they can comprehend what the teachers say and write on the board.
It takes time for kids to develops fine motor skills which is the a co-ordination between fingers and eyes. It is ironic that children need to vent their energy by playing but anyone who tries to do so is termed as hyperactive and is isolated from the rest of the children.
“The Montessori system that allowed a child to play in mud, water and in the open has been put on the backburner but that was the best system. Now there are some play groups which even give homework. This is very traumatic for the child,” Majmudar said.
Parents ‘feel forced’ to pressurise children
Most of the parents don’t want to rush their children into schools, but feel that their kids might be left behind if they do not do so.
Dipen Modi, a businessman who has a young daughter, said, “It is tough for children to succeed if they are not put in a play group during these competitive times.” He pointed out that schools interview children at the time of admission. Some schools are also affiliated to play group, ensuring easy admission.
“During interviews, children are asked to identify letters, colours and fruits and we are unable to make children learn all that at home. The state government should stop interviews of children. I for one am against pushing children to study early but we are forced to do so.”
By Yogesh Avasthi
Posted On Wednesday, February 17, 2010 (http://www.ahmedabadmirror.com/index.aspx?Page=article§name=News%20-%20City§id=3&contentid=2010021720100217034050627a9990d1c)
Union HRD Minister Kapil Sibal’s proposal to increase the minimum age of admissions to nursery to four years has found an echo among educationists, psychologists and parents in Ahmedabad.
The race among parents to put pressure on children to study at an early age not only impedes their mental growth but also curbs their overall development, they say.
Currently, three-year-old kids could be admitted to nursery.
Play groups are tension groups
Anju Musafir, founder of Mahatma Gandhi International School, feels “play groups” have become “tension groups” and the impatience of the parents to get quick results for the money they pay restricts the development of the children and their ability to enjoy themselves.
Musafir said in countries like Finland, the formal education process starts only after the child turns seven. “For six years the child stays home and learns things that no school will be able to teach. The kind of overall development possible at home at that age is not possible in schools,” she said.
Parents want to speed up development
“Under the old education system in India, children used to go to school only after they were six or seven years, but at present children are put under stress right from play groups. Besides, even if the play groups wish to slow down the development process, parents insist they want their child to learn alphabets and numbers,” Musafir said.
This is making Indian kids irritated, Musafir said adding that if the state took a decision to increase the age for admissions in nursery, she would be the first to support it.
Don’t rob children of their childhood
Psychologist Suresh Majmudar feels that parents are competing with each other to rob kids of their childhood instead of nurturing their growth of a child. Children are not developed either mentally or physically at a time when they are pushed into a play group. “These days a child does not even know how to grip a pencil properly and he is made to write in schools,” he said.
Majmudar said a child is mentally ready for reading and writing when he or she turns six. He strongly recommended letting children play when they are young. He said children develop concentration power at age six when they can comprehend what the teachers say and write on the board.
It takes time for kids to develops fine motor skills which is the a co-ordination between fingers and eyes. It is ironic that children need to vent their energy by playing but anyone who tries to do so is termed as hyperactive and is isolated from the rest of the children.
“The Montessori system that allowed a child to play in mud, water and in the open has been put on the backburner but that was the best system. Now there are some play groups which even give homework. This is very traumatic for the child,” Majmudar said.
Parents ‘feel forced’ to pressurise children
Most of the parents don’t want to rush their children into schools, but feel that their kids might be left behind if they do not do so.
Dipen Modi, a businessman who has a young daughter, said, “It is tough for children to succeed if they are not put in a play group during these competitive times.” He pointed out that schools interview children at the time of admission. Some schools are also affiliated to play group, ensuring easy admission.
“During interviews, children are asked to identify letters, colours and fruits and we are unable to make children learn all that at home. The state government should stop interviews of children. I for one am against pushing children to study early but we are forced to do so.”
