Join Nursery World to explore early years education in India
Tuesday, May 26, 2015
Nursery World, in association with Master Travel, is running a new professional study tour to encounter early years education in India, home to 160m children under six years old.
The trip includes a wide range of nursery visits in a fast-developing sector, plus some fantastic cultural highlights, starting in Mumbai and moving on to Pune, Bangalore, Mysore, Calicut, Shoranur and Kochi.
Education is not compulsory in India until six, but the pre-school sector is booming, with private chains such as Kidzee (1,500 settings) and Eurokids (800+ settings) expanding rapidly through franchises. The market is already worth about $2 billion.
At the same time, government, NGO and charity-run ‘Balwadis’ are providing pre-primary education for less privileged children in urban slums and rural communities, and ‘Anganwadis’ ('courtyard shelters') are part of a government programme of integrated health and education services tacking malnutrition and providing non-formal education for children 0-6.
There has been little regulation of pre-school services in India, but Early Childhood Care and Education regulations are now in the process of being implemented.
Professional visits include the Door Step School in Mumbai, an NGO working to promote education and impart literacy skills among the socially and economically disadvantaged children of urban slum communities.
By contrast, in the same city is Podar Jumbo Kids, one of a private group of 220 nursery franchises. In Calicut, we’re going to a local nursery in the jungle.
Along the way, the group will see amazing temples, caves, cities, markets and national parks, adding up to an unforgettable experience.
- For more information, the full itinerary and to book, visit the Master Travel website
