Dealing aspects of diversity in pre-primary grades

Pages: 66-69
Fariha Siddiqui (Department of Education (Central Institute of Education) University of Delhi, Delhi )

Unity in diversity as a phrase is very common to Indian citizen. India being a muti-cultural, multi-religious society have wide spectrum of variations. This spectrum is visible in Indian schools where children from different background attends the formal education under the same roof. Teachers in Indian classrooms have crucial responsibility as they deal with children carrying diverse background with them. The way teacher deals with the children have long-lasting impact on them. The everyday classroom experiences may make or break child’s notions about self and others. As appreciation or depreciation of diversity depends on teacher’s immediate action. This impact of teacher on child’s attitude is many-folds on a child aged 5-6 years. With young children, what their teacher speaks to them may become their inner voice. Thus dealing the aspects of diversity is of utmost importance at pre-primary level which is explored in this paper. Data has been collected from a private run school in East Delhi. Classroom observations and interviews were used as tools to collect data. Teachers responses in interviews gave insights of the daily confrontation of issues of diversity in pre-primary grades and how these issues are dealt. The study indicated that awareness of teacher about issues of diversity is essential in a country like India. The study also revealed that more and more work needs to be done to equip teachers, to help children from diverse background sustain in our education system.