Montessori Directors' Training Centre - Inauguration

Deccan Herald, Bangalore, Report on 29 September 2008

Kageri favours Montessori
BANGALORE, DHNS
The State government will extend its all support towards the progress of Montessori School system, said Minister for Primary and Secondary Education Visweswara Hegde Kageri. Speaking at the inauguration of Montessori Directors’ Training Centre (MDTC) on Sunday he said he will talk to the chief minister in this regard and fix up meetings with departments concerned towards this objective. On the importance of Montessori education, Kageri said for children to learn well, it is important to start training them early. Teachers in Primary Schools find it easier to teach children who have undergone Montessori training. Speaking on the occasion, Chairman, Indian Montessori Centre B V A Rao, talked about the need for such a centre in a time where there is a growing need to create Directors. He said the Centre currently has one Director who trains in Kannada which is useful for rural training. The Centre plans to start training in regional languages such as Tamil and Telugu. The MDTC will offer a programme to train Directors of training courses, with a focus on offering necessary technical and intellectual expertise required to establish, operate and manage a training course. Eligibility requirements include Montessori diploma and experience in working in an established Montessori school for atleast three years.

Times of India, Bangalore, Report on 29 September 2008

Govt pledges support for Montessori system
TIMES NEWS NETWORK, Bangalore
Primary and secondary education minister Visweswara Hegde Kageri said on Sunday the Montessori system of education will get full support from the government. He added that the Indian Montessori Centre’s request to be a recommendatory body for all Montessories in the state will be taken into consideration. “I will discuss the matter with the chief minister,’’ he said. He was speaking at the launch of the Montessori Directors’ Training Centre at the Yavanika State Youth Centre on Sunday. He also said steps will be taken to consider Montessori students’ direct entry to primary schools. The centre will train teachers and offer technical and intellectual expertise required to establish, operate and manage the course. It will be a two to three year training and a certificate will be given in the form of citation, he added.

Montessori Directors' Training Centre - Inauguration

Programme details

The Montessori Directors' Training Centre (under the auspices of the
IMC ) was inaugurated on Sunday the 28th September 2008 at the 'Yavanika' hall of the State Youth Centre, Nrupatunga Road Bangalore 560001. Shri Visweswar Hegde, Hon'ble Minister for Primary and High School Education,Govt of Karnataka did the honour of inaugurating, and he delivered the felicitatory address. Dr. Ali Khwaja, Founder, Banjara Academy was the special guest and he spoke on Stress-Free Learning Environments and Creating Awareness in Parents and Teachers.

Montessori Directors' Training Centre

Montessori Directors’ Training Centre (MDTC)

Indian Montessori Centre (IMC), which was registered in 1989 in Bangalore, is a national organization with the prime object of propagating the Montessori Method of education. Among its varied activities, IMC also awards diplomas to the trainees of all its affiliated training centres in Bangalore (IMTC) as well as Chennai (CMTC). These diplomas enable the qualified teachers to work in established Montessori schools for the age group of 3 to 6 years or alternatively, start their own Houses of Children. Besides, IMC offers certificates for students of the on-line course, OMTC.

In addition to these activities, IMC is also encouraging the training of the trainers (known as Directors) under the guidance of well-recognized and experienced Directors already running the various Training Centres. So far, IMC has awarded certificates to three such Directors, and two more are in the offing. More such trainers are needed to train teachers, for a country of our magnitude, which needs many more teachers both at primary level (3-6 years age group) and elementary level (6-12 years age group). The awareness to extend the Montessori education beyond 6 years is already receiving considerable attention even in our country, although it is already prevalent in a few advanced countries.

With the inspiration and impetus provided by visionaries and guiding forces like Dr. B. V. A. Rao, Chairman and Ms. Meenakshi Sivaramakrishnan, Secretary-General, IMC is now launching a formal Montessori Directors’ Training Centre, which is being inaugurated on 28 September 2008 in Bangalore. MDTC will be headed by the luminary Ms. Meenakshi Sivaramakrishnan who has also designed the course. This two-year comprehensive programme focuses not only on the necessary technical and intellectual expertise required to establish, operate and manage the training course, but also provides opportunities for the spiritual preparation of the Trainer. They no longer prepare themselves only to be ‘worthy of the child’, but also to inspire others to look at the child from a different perspective: to serve the child with passion and compassion, love, respect and dignity.

This course would be like a laboratory for interns to practise their skills as they prepare themselves to take up independent responsibility to train teachers. Requirements of enrolment would include a recognized Montessori diploma and experience of working at a well-established Montessori school for a minimum period of three years. Communication skills in English should be good. Directors for training teachers in other regional languages are also greatly needed and they are also eligible for admission as trainers, at specific training centres. Currently, Kannada medium is available.

On the successful completion of the course and submission of a report on their work and contributions, which would be presented before a board of examiners for validation, candidates will be awarded the Directors’ Certificate by IMC. This certificate is an acquired degree certificate and lifetime achievement recognition.

Photographs of the event