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Balghars
Essentially Balghars are pre schools
following the Montessori Method of teaching to make learning fun for 3 –
5 year olds in the slums.
Sankalp Mitra Mandal in Sankalitnagar,
Ahmedabad has been running Balghars for spreading holistic and integrated
child development activities since 2002. In the last five years 3 centers
that have been established. Earlier no pre-schools of this kind existed
for 3 to 6 yrs old children. A strong base for pre-school education has
been created through the Balghars. The 3 balghars at Sankalitnagar have
been providing pre primary education to 105 children, emphasizing on girl
education.
Key Features of Balghars
Ø The main focus of the balghars have been
child centered activities with focus on the developmental stages
concerning their social, mental,
physical and emotional make up.
Ø A half yearly evaluation is done in order to
monitor the child’s progress and growth.
Ø Parent meetings are conducted every three
months to keep them informed of the progress and growth of the child.
This leads to an increase in awareness of the parents towards importance
of educating the child.
Ø Creative and participatory teaching and
learning form the core of these balghars.
Ø Montessori Method of teaching is followed.
Regular teachers training takes place to update their skills periodically
with modern, participatory teaching techniques. There is emphasis on
capacity building of the teachers through bi-annual trainings and
introduction of new and innovative teaching methodologies.
Ø A monthly fee is charged which builds
accountability. Therefore the balghars creates a base for further
learning and prepares the child to fit within the education system.
Ø The balghars have been encouraging holistic
growth through the means of practical activities such as exposure visits
and trips, celebrations of all festivals etc.
Nutrition in Balghars
Equal importance
is given to the physical growth of the child and therefore a proper nutritional
diet is worked out. There is also a regular monitoring of the child’s
physical growth by taking their weight etc. In all 3 balghars, nutritious
food which constitutes of different pulses and snacks is provided. Every
year child‘s health check- up is done. Both mother and children are also
given guidance about having proper nutritious food. Monthly Growth
monitoring report is also done.
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