Children and their parents are getting attracted to the multi-coloured pictures adorning the walls of model pre-schools of anganwadi centres that are given a facelift, up-to-date syllabus, and other upgraded facilities.
The school buildings have been painted with colourful pictures of fruits, themes of numbers, Jungle Book stories, and mythological subjects that leave an everlasting impression on the children’s minds.
The teaching of English rhymes and the use of audio-visual techniques have impressed the parents so much that they feel glad for sending their children there.
“These steps are being taken to reassure the weaker section families. They are unable to bear the financial burden of private convents. Projectors are also given and digital classrooms give a new experience to the children,” says district Collector R. Mutyala Raju. A visit to the model pre-schools located at Muthyalapalem and Mulapet vouch for the care that is taken in giving a pleasing look to the surroundings.
This provides relief to the poor families that cannot afford to meet the expenses in private pre-schools, which are charging over ₹60,000 per year. The high costs are attributed to investments necessary to create the right ambience in the classrooms and employing teachers and helpers.
Corporate look
For making the anganwadi pre-schools viable, the officials have done a lot of exercise. They have merged three to four centres located within one km radius into a well-equipped model pre-school. This has helped them in providing facilities and amenities on a par with corporate schools.
These model schools are provided with facilities such as play equipment, chairs and tables, and LED TVs. Conversation in English and learning of rhymes are some of the highlights.
As a result of these improvements, enrolment has picked up in the anganwadi pre-schools even as there has been an increase in enquiries for admission into nursery, LKG, and UKG courses in them.