Metamorphosis of Anganwadi Centres into corporate mode

Tirupati: Illiterate Eswaramma was spell-bound at her granddaughter Lohita chirping English rhymes with ease. She is a UKG student of the Anganwadi centre located in Mahatma Gandhi Municipal (MGM) School and trying to show her newly acquired prowess to her beloved grandma.

Thanks to Anganwadi centres introducing English course from pre-school, it is not Lohitha alone, but 100 plus such tiny tots in the preschool (nursery), LKG and UGG classes in the Anganwadi centre, - all from a poor background- being able to render rhymes fluently. Anganwadi centres was introduced English as part of a pilot project initiated in January this year to impart education on par with corporate schools.

Minister for Municipal Administration P Narayana was instrumental in initiating the pilot project which is now being extended in phased manner to cover the Anganwadi centres in all municipal towns in the state.

The initiative at these is not limited to the course being offered to the children, but also covers other aspects like providing study materials, dress, and also transforming the centres into swanky, full-fledged institutions, similar to corporate schools. The teachers at these centres were also trained in English medium skills.

The difference in the centres is perceptible with vitrified tiles on the floor, attractive educative paintings on walls and the colorful little fiber tables and chairs for the kids in the school. More surprises are in store for the visitors with the way the children greet.

Further, the eloquence the children exhibited in answering any query with confidence with no iota of reluctance, reveal the impact brought by the new system within short time. Three Anganwadi centers functioning in the nearby slum areas were merged into one to become English medium Kindergarten school (Anganwadi).

The in-charge teacher of MGM center, D Malarkudi, speaking to The Hans India said it gives them much happiness when parents come and express their gratitude for improving the performance of their children. The enrolment of the students had increased by at least 30-40 per cent, she said and added that that minister P Narayana had visited the school to monitor the result of the changed system in the Anganwadi centre.

There is every reason for the parents – most of them are illiterates and engaged daily wage earners- to feel proud with the performance of their children. ICDS (Integrated Child Development Scheme) Project Officer G Sudha Rani, informed that the school at Bairagipatteda was developed as a pilot project in January 2017.

The total expenditure was borne by the Minister P Narayana. She said that 24 more schools were also functioning in the city and some more are in the pipeline. The same project is being implemented in the remaining municipalities in the district as well as the State which will be a boon for poor children.