KOCHI: There is little quintessentially school about ‘The School’, like the little plastic pool set in the front entrance where kids frolic mindlessly. A teacher looks on as they splash water onto each other and soon all of them are drenched, their excitement palpable.
The School, a pre-school and kindergarten started by Murdoch University former lecturer Aji Divakar and his Singapore-based wife at rural Paravoor is mainly about such moments and learning here begins from playing. Their aim is simple: create genius minds.
Sans classrooms, desk-chairs and blackboards, kids here huddle around their teacher (or facilitators as they are called here), learning things. While a few comfortably lie on the floor scribbling words, others take quick play breaks before rushing back to their teacher. Most of them are below four and display reading and writing skills beyond their age.
The start
It was in 2014 that Aji Divakar and his Singapore-based wife Chiek Chin Shyan flew down with their two kids to Paravoor. The dream of ‘The School’ where an alternative system of education will be practiced had taken wings long before that. By 2015, ‘The School’ began its operations for pre-schoolers and LKG with eight students.
“In 2010, our dream of a school, where an alternative approach will be practiced, took wings. So, I began saving money and constucted the building. We were adamant that there will be no classrooms or classes as such. Every child will be given a training that suits his or her caliber. Basically, our focus is on peer-to-peer learning,” says Aji Divakar. His wife Shyan trains the kids too.
Aji says over the years, he has found the traditional education system futile. “What I follow in The School is a combination of Steiner and Montessori system where children are encouraged to be intelligent thinkers,” says Aji.
However, thinks weren’t easy. Following alternative education system meant challenges galore. Parent’s needed to be convinced. But, once results were seen, more parents approached them. Today, there are over 40 children at ‘The School’.
“Students are not forced to sit through lessons here. They interact with their friends and learn things. This helps stimulate their brains,” says Aji Divakar.
Most students are from rural background. “We were told by many to shift to a more urban place. But, that means children will lose the greenery and the connection to nature. But, we may think about it in the coming years,” says Aji.
The idea
Aji Divakar says it is important to keep children happy, nourished and stimulated and that is exactly what ‘The School’ intends to do. “Children have billions of brain cells that needs to be stimulated. One cannot create a genius after 10 years. It should begin when they are two to six years. This is what we aim to do here,” says his wife Shyan.
Aji shares that he plans to expand ‘The School’. “I have devised a certain plan wherein teachers will be given partnership in the school. That will attract the best minds as facilitators.
Another important thing is to remain as a micro school which ensure individual attention. I know it is a slow process and results can be achieved only in years,” says Aji. As of now, the annual fee is fixed at Rs 40,000 at ‘The School’. “As much as we would love to make it very cheap, the rising cost makes it tough to run this,” he adds. The School will follow CBSE or Cambridge Programme for higher education.