IMTC-Chennai was founded by Mrs. Uma Shanker in 1998 and has completed 26 years of teacher training in Chennai with over 1500 students having successfully completed the diploma course. In Tamil Nadu, over 45 Montessori schools have been established by the alumni of IMTC-Chennai. Montessori classrooms at Chennai Schools of Greater Chennai Corporation, have teachers trained at IMTC-Chennai. Mrs. Uma Shaker has the distinction of being the first Director of Training from IMC, Bangalore and she has since mentored 5 other Directors including Mrs. Janaki Raja at IMTC-Erode.IMTC-Chennai’s Montessori teacher training course is a unique opportunity to learn, understand and make a difference in the child’s life. For further information, WA/call 94449 36263, 04424614301 or email: admissions.imtcc@gmail.com www.imtcchennai.org.

She has written articles on children and environment protection in several magazines, and in The Hindu. Her observations on the various programs for children around the world helped her emulate those concepts in her Play School. Over and above, is her counselling sessions with perplexed mothers and kids with problems. This is done beyond the call of duty in the interest of the society. 

PlayCoop has an integrated syllabi based on Indian Methodology with concepts taken  from Montessori. “Why do we need to follow the American syllabi when the Indian system has such beautiful infusions? If you are not aware of those, I’m sorry, You have missed the bus!” is her challenge to educationists. That is why she made sure that her play school has a plethora of after school activities like yoga, art, cooking, games, and other activities to balance study and play in early childhood. 

Asked if children are over-smart, these days, she says, “I firmly believe that children are all born the same, innocent and child-like; it is the parents who mould them into robotic human beings. They place a lot of expectations on their small heads. They want them to excel in everything from academic to sports to arts; each one wants their child to be a superhuman being. Moms are no more the cool and collected species of yesteryears, allowing the child to take up its own interest in his own pace and capacity. They have turned demanding, aggressive and assertive, not aware of the chaos they are creating in a child’s mind. If a child is incapable of living up to their hopes, he loses his confidence and his love for life.” These thoughts are worth pondering.

A working mom spends less time with the child and is over cautious and over protective. They too are first time moms, inexperienced, may not be willing to learn from the experience of other elders in the family. The child emulates this behaviour and wants his way all the time. It is a pitiful state that parents need more counselling than children. But how many schools can afford a counsellor with 30 years of experience? Princess questions. 

Student to teacher ratio being so high, how much can the teacher know about a student? What can a mother do, when she herself is finding it difficult to maintain an emotional balance. A scientific approach to the solutions for the problems a school child faces is missing, in the frenzy of schools opening ten and twelve branches in the city. They dilute the policies and compromise on the pedagogy and quality of teaching, is her concern.

Princess Naik, will be coming out with a book exclusive for young mothers, which will carry the wealth of her experience of 40 years with children. She is ably supported by Padma Srinath, an icon in education, who will also be contributing to the book. It is expected to be in stalls in 2024. 

We need empathetic teachers like Princess Naik in society. May her breed grow!

Princess Naik can be contacted at 98847 65925 or at nplaycoop@yahoo.com.

Avvai Home and Orphanage was established in 1931 by Dr. Muthulakshmi Reddy; Avvai Home Primary school was established by Mandakini Krishnamurthi in 1950. Over the years, it has evolved into its current form as a pre-primary and primary school. 

This programme with NGO Grass Root Foundation is funded by CorroHealth as part of their Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) initiative. CorroHealth is a  leading provider of clinically led healthcare analytics and technology-driven solutions dedicated to positively impacting the financial performance of hospitals and health systems.

The Montessori method of education aims to ignite curiosity, foster an awareness of the environment and its people, and instil a passion for lifelong learning in young minds. By utilising this innovative approach, Avvai Home Primary School strives to create a nurturing and stimulating learning environment that encourages students to develop essential skills, including numeracy and language proficiency.

The program was inaugurated on Aug.2 by Sugalchand Jain, Chairman of Avvai Home and Orphanage for Girls. Avvai Home and Orphanage for Girls was represented by Susheela Viswanathan – Correspondent and Secretary, parents, teachers and students. CorroHealth team was represented by its Senior Vice Presidents  and  Grass Root Foundation Trust team had their Managing Trustee and Advisory Board.

Meena Srinath – Senior Vice President (Global Finance and Procurement), Yadvinder Singh Jaspal – Senior Vice President (Global Operations), Grass Root Foundation Trust team had Herur Emmanuel – Managing Trustee and Patrick Mathew – Member Advisory Board.