NEW INITIATIVE: Learning and activity go hand in hand for children of the Corporation Primary School in Mylapore. — Photo: K.V. Srinivasan

CHENNAI: Two-and-a-half year-old Arundati was busy rolling a chapathi. She tried once, shook her head disapprovingly and started all over again. This time, she was a bit satisfied with her effort, but didn't mind giving it another shot. Her friends didn't disturb her. They were busyarranging blocks, matching objects and grating carrots.

A few months ago, the Chennai Corporation introduced activity-based learning methods in the kindergarten of the Corporation Primary School in Mylapore. The methodologies, borrowed extensively from the Montessori system, seem to have impressed the authorities.

Classroom ambience

"The classroom ambience is so conducive for learning. Children are given the freedom and they learn automatically. I was really impressed to see a child so absorbed in grinding sandal paste," said M.P.Vijayakumar, Corporation Commissioner.

Last June, the Corporation involved Sri Ramacharan Charitable Trust, an organisation working in the field of education, in the school's activities.

Members of the trust appointed teachers to help children learn in the different way. "I wanted to involve an NGO that was completely service minded. The volunteers are doing extremely good work," Mr. Vijayakumar said.

"Initially, parents had a grievance about their child not being taught how to write. But in this system, each activity is designed to build a particular skill. It is fascinating to see them work so beautifully. The Corporation has given us complete freedom," said Padmini Gopalan, president of the trust.

Nithya Raja, a teacher, said children are not ready to write until their hands get steady. "Our methods help enhance their dexterity and improve hand-mind coordination. We just let them be. They choose a particular activity and work on it as long as they wish to," she said.

Each child is seated on a mat with materials. Once they are done, they neatly fold their mats and put them in the rack in the corner.

A child who was religiously grating carrots made sure his friends got to taste some.

During lunch hour, they sit in rows facing one another and eat in peace. They walk up to the wash area, wash their hands and wipe their little hands with a towel placed there. And then it time for a nap.

"A few of them wake up and ask me if they could sit on their mat and work. We simply allow them to do what they want," said Ms. Raja.

The feedback from parents has also been positive. "My son leaves for school so enthusiastically.

He insists that we keep things in its place," said Latha Damu, mother of three-year-old Yogesh.

Mr.Vijayakumar said the corporation planned to extend the initiative to other schools.

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