Whilst government lower and higher primary schools are facing shortage of students, Makkala Manes (lower kindergarten schools) are getting tremendous response from parents in Mandya district.
The Department of Public Instruction (DPI) has established Makkala Mane at 50 places in all seven taluks, and 1,300 kids have enrolled this academic year.
Financial exploitation by private kindergartens and babysitters, and the prevailing drought situation are prime reasons for parents admitting their kids in Makkala Mane, say block education officers (BEO). The quality of education by teachers has been attracting kids towards Makkala Mane. It will prevent the closure of government schools as kids will be directly admitted to government schools, said M. Shivamadappa, Deputy Director of Public Instruction. Speaking to The Hindu here on Thursday, Mr. Shivamadappa said the department was contemplating setting up more such centres.
A few centres were opened in the district on an experimental basis last academic year. Initiatives such as mothers’ meet and awareness programmes were conducted to publicise them. Private associations too extended support to the cause of saving government schools. The collective efforts by teachers was also prompting parents to send their kids to Makkala Mane, he said. Parents, school development and management committee (SDMC) members and philanthropists have been contributing towards salaries of teachers, who were appointed on contract basis.
Exploitation
For the last three years, the farming community has been losing one crop every year owing to drought. Private schools and those who run babysitting centres demand at least Rs.12,000 per child as annual fee. But, the quality of teaching is not up to the mark at private centres, said Mary Celina, a parent in Srirangapatna. The SDMC members and parents arrange for books and other necessities, said Mahadeva, BEO (Mandya). The children are taught basic activities, identifying and writing alphabets, singing, dancing, cleanliness, and other activities at Makkala Mane.
A Makkala Mane was inaugurated at Halahalli here on Thursday. Thirty children enrolled here in an hour, Mr. Mahadeva said.
