CHENNAI: “Children in
kindergarten
need individual attention, handholding, they just cannot learn online,” said Radhik Merchant,
parent
of a five-year-old.
He recently decided to not enroll his daughter in
UKG
and homeschool her instead. “She didn’t really learn much last year and children were hardly able to concentrate. It often resulted as a snooze fest,” he said.
But Radhik isn’t the only one who made this decision. Atleast five parents of four, five, and six-year-olds TOI spoke to have either not enrolled or pulled out their children from school, saying that is unreal to expect them to learn basic concepts by attending hour-long classes online. Sheetal Kumar pulled out her four-year-old from a school. “I have spoken to educationists and prepared a curriculum so my son can learn at home. I'll only enroll him once schools physically reopen,” she said Several city schools have also witnessed a drastic fall in admissions in kindergarten classes this academic year. C Bharathi Lakshmi, principal of Hindustan International School said they’ve noticed around 80% fall in admissions. “A few parents feel that they would rather save a year’s fee and keep their children at home and there are others who find it difficult to sit with the child during class hours,” she said.
The exact trend was noticed at the Orange Tree Montessori School in Madipakkam. Mohammed Aboobacker Siddique, founder of the school said that payment of fees is a common concern amongst parents. “They feel this amount is not justified. We have done our best to create a classroom-like atmosphere, ensuring there is no dull moment. But now we just need to wait and see how the situation changes,” he said.
Experts say parents can take it slow for a year but must set a routine and schools can chip in by sharing learning materials that are essential for their development. “Parents can come up with creative alternatives to learning. At least one parent must fully be committed. They must spend quality time and not merely keep them home doing nothing,” said Pooja Yeligala, occupational therapist who specialises in working with children.
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