Untrained Pre-School Tutors ‘Judge’, Ruin Child’s Chances
By Manu Shrivastava
When four-year-old Fizan Khan from Mumbai found it difficult to identify and write English alphabets despite going to a playschool, nursery and tuition classes in Mumbai for about two years, his family got worried. It was time for him to take admission in a primary school and the stress only mounted.
The playschool, predictably, shrugged all responsibility saying it wasn’t their job to teach the child as playschools are only for ‘fun-filled and creative activities’, despite charging hefty fees in the name of preparing children for admissions to primary schools.
Fizan is an extremely intelligent boy with a sharp mind, immense curiosity and extraordinary skills but he is not able to identify alphabets that well, probably because of the disdain sparked by the senseless scolding at school and back home.
Instead of taking the child to a specialist tutor or being patient with him, the family – swayed by peer pressures and bias - decided to put him through rigorous tuitions and study sessions from ‘untrained’ teachers to ensure he performs well in the ‘good’ school adding to the pressure.
Now, Fizan is on the brink of a ‘schooling’ process and will, sadly, start with a disadvantage. He is already judged for being unable to write certain alphabets even before having started school. Judged by untrained ‘tuition teachers’ and ill-informed ‘well-wishers’ those who have little or no idea about pre-school education.
These formative years of a child’s life before he starts going to primary school are very critical as they begin to absorb every thing they see around them. This affects the child’s development – physical, emotional, social and cognitive.
When four-year-old Fizan Khan from Mumbai found it difficult to identify and write English alphabets despite going to a playschool, nursery and tuition classes in Mumbai for about two years, his family got worried. It was time for him to take admission in a primary school and the stress only mounted.
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| These formative years of a child’s life before he starts going to primary school are very critical as they begin to absorb every thing they see around them |
Fizan is an extremely intelligent boy with a sharp mind, immense curiosity and extraordinary skills but he is not able to identify alphabets that well, probably because of the disdain sparked by the senseless scolding at school and back home.
Instead of taking the child to a specialist tutor or being patient with him, the family – swayed by peer pressures and bias - decided to put him through rigorous tuitions and study sessions from ‘untrained’ teachers to ensure he performs well in the ‘good’ school adding to the pressure.
Now, Fizan is on the brink of a ‘schooling’ process and will, sadly, start with a disadvantage. He is already judged for being unable to write certain alphabets even before having started school. Judged by untrained ‘tuition teachers’ and ill-informed ‘well-wishers’ those who have little or no idea about pre-school education.
These formative years of a child’s life before he starts going to primary school are very critical as they begin to absorb every thing they see around them. This affects the child’s development – physical, emotional, social and cognitive.
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