QUEEN'S ROAD: A serendipitous encounter brought Anantha Padmanabha in touch with the Montessori system of education. After a decade of passionate involvement with the system, he became the executive director of the Indian Montessori Centre and also the director of the IMTC (Indian Montessori Training Centre), Bengaluru South and Bengaluru East.
Currently, he is leading a team of Montessorians who are offering consultancy services. He also oversees the ‘Madhurya’ and ‘Abhyaasa’ Montessori houses of children dedicated to economically backward kids.
He talks to City Express about Association Montessori Internationale ((AMI) )and how Montessori training can change the way education is imparted and absorbed.
The beginning
Dr Maria Montessori came to India in 1939 to conduct the first training programme in India at Adyar under the auspices of Association Montessori Internationale.
Since then the teaching technique has grown and today IMTC is the doorway to Montessori education. It is also the only Montessori course recognised by the Department of Education, India. It is not just any normal training course that offers only information. It is a transformational course in every sense for the students.
The method
The Montessori method of education follows an indirect approach and depends on three agents of education namely: Prepared environment, scientifically prepared materials and a trained educator.
The training happens at three levels: Technical, intellectual and spiritual. The technical level offers information about the three agents of education.The intellectual level of training focusses on the history and science of each of these agents.
The information provided at these two levels is not just ‘given’ away but each student works at imbibing it.
The training at these two levels brings clarity in the vision of the students and hence it results in them committing themselves to higher ideals. This is almost a spiritual level of training.
The transformation
This transformation is often seen as ‘tough, hard etc’. This rigour is part of this course and we expect each of our students to become responsible towards everything they do for children and not work with complacency.
IMTC doesn’t believe in compromising on the course just to make it convenient for the students. It believes in dedication and not comfort. Over the years, thousands of people have been trained and have transformed their lives and the lives of their students.
Crash courses must be avoided
The crash courses deceive by making you believe that you have the requisite knowledge. IMC has programs like internship programmes, refresher programmes, seminars et al to help teachers . IMC also conducts training at the elementary level.We also have a Montessori Directors’ Training Centre (MDTC) to train directors (trainers).
You can visit www.indianmontessoricentre.org for more information
Job prospects
“A job is guaranteed and we always have more demand than we can cater to. Many of our trainees are starting Montessori schools every year and the numbers are increasing. There is a huge demand. Many public and international schools prefer only IMTC students as we do not have a concept of crash courses. Simply because we don’t believe in this quick way of imparting knowledge. Having realised the value of the Montessori Method of education, we know that every child deserves a teacher who is completely trained and committed. Children at this stage are building their personality,” says Anantha.