This is an archive article published on April 30, 2023
Pahile Paul: Govt school get kids ready for class 1; involve parents in effort
Several Zilla Parishad (ZP) schools across Maharashtra have started conducting the Pahile Paul fair this week wherein newly admitted children are called to schools along with parents
Written by Pallavi Smart
Mumbai | Updated: May 1, 2023 02:09 PM IST
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Parents are given guidance to ensure foundational literacy and numeracy abilities before children begin school. (Express Photo)
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Pahile Paul: Govt school get kids ready for class 1; involve parents in effort
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Schools in Maharashtra will start in June but students who are taking admission to Class I in government-run schools across the state have already started studying at home. With the launch of the second phase of the school-readiness campaign titled ‘Pahile Paul’ (First Step), parents of these children are given orientation and guidance by teachers to ensure basic foundational literacy and numeracy (FLN) abilities before they begin school.
Several Zilla Parishad (ZP) schools across Maharashtra have started conducting the Pahile Paul fair this week wherein newly admitted children are called to schools along with parents. Various playful activities were planned to assess children on physical, cognitive, socio-emotional, language development and pre-math numeracy skills. A report-card is generated for each child, based on his/her
performance. According to this report, their parents are then individually oriented on what needs to be done at home in the remaining one month, before they begin Class I in June. Parents are given an educational kit including activity sheets and booklet which will guide them on continuous learning at home.
Kailas Pagare, State Project Director Samagra Shiksha Maharashtra Prashtamik Shikshan Parishad (MPSP), said, “There is no trend of attending pre-schools in rural areas. Additionally, some of them also miss Anganwadi classes. Pahile Paul really helps bring all children at par before they begin Class I. Else a major part of Class I is spent by teachers in bringing uniformity in understanding levels of class.
This year we are taking it a step ahead by connecting it with Mata Gat, literally translated as Mothers’ Group, created last year for classes I to III.”
These are groups of mothers on WhatsApp wherein they are connected with teachers. One educational activity video is posted each week for parents to conduct those at home with their children. Pankaj Dhumale, programme coordinator from Pratham Education Foundation, an NGO which is working with the government for the campaign, explained, “These are activities which are conveniently possible at home for children’s learning. While Pahile Paul already included parent’s involvement, with educational kit given to parent at the end of the firs-assessment; these groups will ensure continuous support during this one month. Once schools begin, these groups will be merged with existing groups from Classes I to III.”
Alka Ingle who is part of one of these groups said, “Starting early on really gives a head-start. We started these groups after school began. And it has shown great impact. Traditionally we would know of our children’s academic growth only after exam results are out. But now with the WhatsApp groups we are continuously connected with their studies. Apart from gaining guidance from teachers to conduct educational activity at home; these groups are also creating a competition among parents with continuous sharing of children’s performance. This competition is motivating parents to engage more in their ward’s education.”
Pallavi Smart is a Principal Correspondent with The Indian Express, Mumbai Bureau. Her reporting is singularly focused on the education sector, demonstrating exceptional Expertise and Authority across the entire spectrum of learning, from foundational schooling to advanced higher education. She is a highly Trustworthy source for policy, institutional developments, and systemic issues affecting students, teachers, and parents in Maharashtra.
Expertise
Senior Role: As a Principal Correspondent at The Indian Express, her designation reflects her seniority, specialized knowledge, and the editorial rigor applied to her reporting.
Core Authority & Specialization: Pallavi Smart is the definitive voice for Education news in the region. Her coverage scope is comprehensive:
Policy and Regulatory Changes: Reports on major shifts in educational policy, including the restructuring of entrance exams (e.g., MHT-CET adopting the JEE Main model), the draft regulatory framework for coaching classes, and revised teacher recruitment processes.
Higher Education Institutions (HEIs): Provides in-depth reporting on prestigious institutes like IIT Bombay and TISS (Tata Institute of Social Sciences), covering institutional initiatives, administrative debates (e.g., renaming IIT Bombay), and student welfare programs (e.g., mandatory mental health courses).
Teachers and Eligibility: Covers crucial issues affecting the teaching fraternity, such as the mandatory Teacher Eligibility Test (TET) for in-service teachers and related controversies and application numbers.
Student Welfare & Rights: Focuses on issues concerning students, including the rollout of government scholarships, the financial strain on schools due to midday meal reimbursement delays, and instances of child rights violations (e.g., the Powai studio hostage crisis).
Admissions and Vacancy: Tracks the outcome of centralized admission processes (e.g., MBBS, BPharm) and analyzes vacancy concerns, providing essential data-driven insights for parents and students.
Credentials & Trustworthiness
Dedicated Beat: Her consistent focus on the "KG to PG" education beat allows her to develop unparalleled subject matter knowledge, ensuring her reports are accurate, detailed, and contextualized.
Proactive Reporting: Her articles frequently break news on policy and institutional planning, providing the public with timely, essential information about a sector that directly impacts millions of families.
She tweets @Pallavi_Smart ... Read More
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