Thursday 9 August 2012

If D.A.P is so important then why is it sparingly noticeable in Indian preschools?


N.C.E.R.T and N.C.T.E do talk about D.A.P and promote it on their websites and seminars but yet the emphasis is strongly on rigorous academics and rote learning and drill activity in preschools as preschools in most states of India are viewed as a preparatory and introductory stage for primary school. So the emphasis is on ensuring that the child is able to write sentences, do addition and subtraction (some schools even teach 5 year olds multiplication and division) answer general knowledge questions and come out with flying colours in formal interview sessions!

I think the problem is when we refer to these years as preschool or pre primary- so the lopsided emphasis is that it is a school that is before the primary school, so naturally it is meant to prepare a child for primary school! Whereas actually the kindergarten years are to prepare a child for life, living and learning. Sadly we only prepare them for learning and that too the incorrect kind!

How can this scenario change? what I am about to suggest may cause a storm and open a hornet’s nest but if a debate on this can be sparked and lead to change in the kindergarten years, then I don’t mind opening the proverbial Pandora’s box-

  1. Tie up pre primary with the primary syllabus, which means instead of the primary especially the standard one dictating to the kindergarten about what each child should be able to do before stepping into standard one, it should be the other way around, let the kindergarten give the primary school, where to start from.
  2. Kindergarten and even primary curriculum usually do not feature in the curriculum definitions of educational boards, but I think if educational boards joined in by specifying what should and should not be taught to primary and kindergarten years then schools would be ‘able to’ implement D.A.P. easily and effectively.
  3. D.A.P can serve as that proverbial bridge that will take the child smoothly from ‘pre primary’ to primary and beyond.
  4. We also need to give a better status to kindergarten, as they are functioning with underpaid adults who lack professional and specialized educational qualifications.
  5. Teachers need to be better qualified so that they will be able to understand their role instead of functioning as ‘powerless’ people just implementing and inflicting incorrect practices on little children.
  6. (The more time young children spend in poor quality settings the lower they score on measures of cognitive and social skills(n.a.e.y.c early child care research network 2000,2003)
  7. Involve doctors and other professionals in driving home the message.
  8. Talk to schools about maturation, and experience
  9. Prepare parents and children for the primary school transition.
  10. More purposeful advocacy for kindergarten must talk about its strengths and potential research based contributions to children.
  11. Kindergarten movement needs a clarity of purpose otherwise there is huge risk of this movement being swept aside or blown off its course by the storms of change raging in educational establishments.
  12. Let the change in educational norms, methods and goals begin with kindergarten  - Kindergarten Is Too Important Not To Protect And Nurture So, Lets Protect Kindergarten And Childhood With D.A.P.(naeyc)
  13. Why do we still stick to the 4 line books for pre primary when the goal is to make the child write on single lines? Three lines will serve the purpose better. Then why put the children through the process of unlearning and learning?
  14. Why cursive writing for pre schoolers? First teach them print and the move to cursive writing in the primary years. When 99% of reading that he is  exposed to is in print? After all to write he must first read and he reads in print
                                         
Some more points to ponder…….

Frankly speaking children require five skills in life that is the core of education, the five skills are –
1.   Physical Skills
2.   Communicative Skills
3.   Social Skills
4.   Emotional Skills
5.   Intellectual Skills
                                                               
When parents and schools only stress on the learning of the 3 R’s or academics, only the 5th skill is being developed, so what about the other 4 skills will they not be important in life? They are extremely important and maybe this misplaced focus on only one skill is the real reason why this generation is not as adaptive, emotionally strong and able to relate, unlearn and learn in their life work.

It’s high time we educate parents on how schools should educate their kids! 

24 comments:

DIANA TYAGI said...

The authenticity of the points raised by you through the article are justifiably accurate. Parental priorities are undergoing a drastic change.Usage of improper parameters to gauge,verify and scrutinise the authenticity of preschools is responsible for the mushrooming of abundant preschools that have very little to offer towards the productive nurturing of a child....
Parents with monetary constraints are willing to analyse, percieve and understand the choices offered today by multitude preschools today, thereby rightfully prescribing to the philosophy of KIDUCATION that a brand like Podar adheres to, yet the more affluent educated structure of society with all their so called readymade infrastructure available are seemingly ignorant in areas that are of primary concern.

The kindergarten years are unfortunately lost in a maze of IQ Improvement classes coupled with the syndrome of interview classes which is the bane of existence of the new age Moms.
The role that a pre school plays in a childs life cannot be undermined nor can it replenish the damage caused by an incorrect system. The points of consideration put forth by you if implemented on a serious scale can bring forth a dramatic change in our existing education scenario.What is lacking in todays scenario is not as much the need for change as is the WILL to change. Kindergarten Movement will be able to implement the much deserved change if we are able to spread awareness among parents,as also among preschools to lay weightage on the issue of appointing qualified teachers to tramsmit knowledge and yes by involving prominent professionals from a cross section of society to urge parents to bring forth change in their decisions,sensibilities and thereby evoke the much needed response.
The implementation of the strategy of Std 1 guiding the preschool ahead of the requirements of syllabus will not only aid in bringing clarity of vision to the whole perspective but will also help in lessening some of the burden that the student is badgered down with at high school.Correctly mentioned points such as learning followed by drastic unlearning at later stages in a childs life, point out the magnamity of blunders in our educational system. Through changes in our thought process we can aid to bring about longer lasting changes in our warped system that is already ailing with varied life threatening issues....DIANA TYAGI PODAR JUMBO KIDS WORLI

Unknown said...
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pjkparbhani said...

Rote learning or emphasis strongly on academics will not help the child at all. All 5 skills as it is the core of education D.A.P. is very important. As parent all should learn this.

Unknown said...

The kindergarten years are unfortunately lost in a maze of IQ improvement classes coupled with the syndrome of interview classes.Kindergarten movement will be able to implement the much deserved change if we are able to spread awareness. So it is very important that D.A.P should be followed in all preschool.

Jumbo kids Latur said...

D.A.P. is very important to follow in the classrooms for the development of child, and we are very lucky that we are following it in Podar Jumbo Kids as a part of the kiducation

Jumbo kids Latur said...
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Podar Jumbo Kids, kalyan said...

Kindergarden-Garden for Kids should be the first and foremost concern for the Society as at this stage of kids will ultimately be a future citizen ,guardian of this Country.

Unknown said...

Show me and I forget;
Teach me and I remember;
Involve me and I learn.” Benjamin Franklin

Thought provoking - stimulating and challenging the minds of young children based on the philosophy that children are competent and trustworthy, and can make good decisions if given the opportunity and practice

Problem-solving
instead of just yelling for the teacher cooperation responsibility eye-hand coordination
culture – exposure
language development.
Manners to be a more active participant in the process, and in their environment. So it is very important to follow D.A.P in each preschools.

Unknown said...
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Unknown said...

Many parents are not aware of transition period, but this article will help them to understand what is transition and how we together deal with the same. I feel all the school should take an initiative to share such kind of awareness amoong all the parents and education as well.

Unknown said...

Everyone want kids to be well settled so its a transition activity which is to be introduced to them such as quiet followed by silent ,active followed by silent,sitting followed by moving si I think not only schools but also parents should be aware of how transition helps children for their future learnings.
Where writing id concerned for children they are learning it with reading and writing simultaneously.It requires a appropriate font.

Unknown said...

Everyone want kids to be well settled so its a transition activity which is to be introduced to them such as quiet followed by silent ,active followed by silent,sitting followed by moving si I think not only schools but also parents should be aware of how transition helps children for their future learnings.
Where writing id concerned for children they are learning it with reading and writing simultaneously.It requires a appropriate font.

Unknown said...

Yes it is true,that these sort of practices must be followed in each and every preschools to enlighten the children future and spread awareness amongst the parents.

Sadaf Khan said...

Thank you ma'am for sharing valuable information with us.

Unknown said...

DAP rightly focuses on the fact that we need to help kids develop into lifetime learners. Here the kindergarten teacher plays an important part as 98% of a child's growth occurs in the first 6 years and it is indeed the need of the hour to inculcate correct curriculum and pedagogy into the educational system.

Unknown said...
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Unknown said...

Kindergarten are the most golden and valuable years in the child's life. Kindergarten is a time of change, challenge, and opportunity. In many ways, kindergartners are still like preschoolers. Yet with the increasing focus on school readiness, many kindergarten classrooms unfortunately bow to pressures and begin to look more like a primary classroom than a kindergarten. No doubt D.A.P. is important and the Indian preschools must develop the curriculum and teaching methodology by keeping in mind the D.A.P.

Unknown said...

Through this article I can relate that transition period in child's life is very important as when changes takes place in child's life there should be something through which a child can relate and can adjust with the new atmosphere. In India before giving a strong basis people think that they should be ready for primary section but they are not able to understand what is the importance of first 6 years in child's life. This blog helped us to understand the value of D.A.P.

Unknown said...

wonderful article D.A.P must read and share.

Pritijayant said...

Really D.A.P. is so essential part of Kiduaction for developing five skills in children and also very useful for transition from preschool to primary school. Thank you Ma`am for this most valuable guidance.

Unknown said...

Pre-school years play a very important role in every child’s life. And D. A. P. is very important for the holistic development of the child. So teachers need to be well qualified and should have knowledge about child development, so that teachers can teach children the right things at the right time and right age.
Teachers understand childhood theories so that they are empowered to explain D. A. P. to parents in a right way.
We are very lucky that we are following D. A. P. in Podar Jumbo Kids as a part of the kiducation.
So it is very important that D.A.P should be followed in all preschool.
Thank you ma'am for sharing valuable information with us.

nagpur jumbo kid said...

Its really true Kindergartens are playing pivotal role in shaping future of a child, More emphasis should be given on Kindergarten syllabus.

Uma Nagdeo said...

Holistic development in every child is most important but unfortunately many preschools emphasis on developing intellectual skills and in this race child is actually missing his childhood so D.A.P should be followed in each preschools because these are the foundation years of child which will help them for their bright future.

Ezy Schooling said...

D.A.P (Developmentally Appropriate Practice) is crucial for nurturing young minds, yet its implementation in Indian preschools remains limited. To ensure quality education, institutions like the Best Schools in Yelahanka must prioritize D.A.P, fostering holistic development from the early years.