When Veena Murali was looking for a school for her daughter Zoya, a friend recommended that she consider enrolling her in a Montessori school. When she began research on Montessori schools, she realised there were many in the area and choosing the right one was a problem.
In the past few years, there has been a drastic increase in the number of such schools in the city. Parents, too, are seem eager to enrol their children in these schools whether it is only for kindergarten or until they turn 12.
“I do not want my daughter to hate school the way I did, because it was only about exams and marks. With the Montessori system, she will be able to learn at a speed she is comfortable with,” Ms. Murali said, admitting she is confused which school to admit their daughter in.
Experts say that while choosing the school, parents should ensure all teachers are ‘Montessori trained.’ Bhavani Kumar, founder of Patasala Montessori School, said parents should check if the school provides three-hour uninterrupted work cycles that are not directed by the teacher.
One of the most important things to look for in such schools is if there is mixed age grouping with one Montessori trained teacher overseeing them.
“When younger and older children work together, there is a sense of community, which drives children to work better,” Ms. Kumar said.
Vidya Shankar, who runs Cascade Montessori Resource Centre, believes parental involvement is key and they should spare time and make appropriate changes to ensure holistic development of their children.
Rukmini Ramachandran, Montessori trainer at Navadisha Montessori Foundation, recommends a short 10-15 day course where parents can learn its basics. “Until the parent is immersed in the system, they will be unable to decide if it is right for their children,” she added.
