– Reshma Ravishanker
In tune with the previous year’s trend, a majority of parents in Bengaluru are either considering homeschooling or skipping an entire academic year rather than enrol their child in online playschools and preschools.
Some parents feel that a preschooler might gain little out of an online class while others feel homeschooling is a more convenient option.
On social media platforms, parents of children seeking Montessori admissions have expressed that they would rather give online schooling a miss and admit their children in Lower KG (LKG) or class I directly.
For instance, in a discussion on a Facebook page for parents in Bengaluru, reacting to a post on one of the members seeking suggestions on admission to Montessori, most parents said that they would choose homeschooling instead.
Medha Jain, one of the parents suggested, “We skipped nursery even when the pandemic had not started. As the nursery syllabus is very basic, kids will cover it up within one month when LKG starts. Besides, primary classes schools anyway revise previous year course content in the initial months.”
Suggestions on home tutoring, online audio-visual resources to reference books are being shared within the parents groups as an alternative to online classes.
Similarly, parents felt that it was not worth sending children to playschools either. Anusuya, a parent from Bengaluru south said, “We have study material online to help us teach my daughter at home. Even if we enrol her in an online class, she will not be able to focus. Also, exposing a child to so much screen time is not recommended,” she said.
Working mothers said that they will have to invest more time themselves aside from what the preschools did.
Sangeeta Bora, parent of a child who is to be enrolled in pre-KG said that as a child that age has not been exposed to a school setting, sitting them down for virtual classes becomes a challenge.
“Parents are also working from home. In online classes, parents must also focus on the child’s classes. We are admitting our children in schools for name’s sake, more as a formality to be enrolled for formal education. However, most of the work will have to be done by parents.
“I am also considering neighbourhood tuitions or individual tutoring at home. Besides, we are looking at creating a study environment at home to try to create that vibe for our child,” Sangeeta Bora said.
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