This article is sponsored by Meru International School
In India, you cannot help visiting small children on a construction site living in temporary housing with working parents. Although they may belong to different parts of the country, what unfortunately remains common is the fact that these children do not go to school.
This can be due to many factors ranging from frequent movement of parents to lack of basic understanding or lack of proper ID. However, these reasons pale in comparison to what these children are losing – the right to basic education.
As it happens, those who work in the construction and real estate industries are most vulnerable to this social problem. A senior employee of My Home Construction, a real estate company in Hyderabad, was disturbed to see these children not going to school. They are often left unattended, which can be extremely dangerous.
After he shared this with Ramurao Jupalli, Vice President of My Home Construction, Ramu Rao immediately agreed to help and the team reached out to Meghna Gorukanti Jupalli, who runs Meru International School, to find a solution. How can they provide early childhood education in a nurturing and safe environment? By building a daycare center-cum-play school called Meru Aweksha.
The first Meru Aveksha center was opened last year in an upcoming residential project by My Home Group in Kokapet, Hyderabad. Two more centers have opened in the city in the past 12 months. The three centers cater to over 150 children, from infants to 12 years of age, empowering them with the necessary skill sets, providing them with a safe place to stay during the day.
Security, education and food
The Meru Aveksha team first spoke to parents and children of migrant workers to understand the major gaps. They say that it is difficult for these children to get admission in government schools because they do not have facilities to spend time during the day and do not have basic identification documents like Aadhaar card.
“Most of these children will come to the site with their parents or stay at home. Some older children also sometimes start acting early. We want to provide them with security, education and food. We have found that the best way to do this is through daycare and playschool centers,” says Meghna.
These centers built on construction sites are spread over half an acre. They have indoor and outdoor play areas, classrooms, audio-visual rooms and more. The teachers at Meru International School have developed a curriculum from basic to advanced that focuses on language, numeracy, physical activity, arts and crafts as well as health and hygiene skills according to the children’s age.
Opens from 8:30 am to 3:30 pm, every day starts with circle time, indoor play time, toilet break (to develop good habits), English, Hindi and Maths classes, audio-visual aids (music/dance/ . movies/fiction/art), and more.
The biggest challenge was convincing the parents. It was only after parents brought their children to the center every day that they realized the benefits.
“We advise parents on the importance of early education. Our idea is to create a habit of coming daily in a structured space. After attending this center for two or three years, they will be ready to join mainstream schools,” adds Meghna.
After several interventions that emphasized the importance of education, children began to take center stage.
Basics of Early Childhood Education
Each center has a caretaker and two qualified staff. The curriculum is designed to improve learning outcomes and bridge gaps.
“All students first start with a common syllabus, which includes letters. Once they progress, they are given textbooks and worksheets for the next level. They are then divided into small groups and taught according to their level,” says Meghna, adding that each student Uniforms, textbooks and worksheets are provided.
The biggest change that Meru Aweksha Kendra members have seen in children is the change in behavior. “Their attitude towards themselves has changed. From not going to the after-lunch class, everyone now comes back. They are enjoying themselves. The most important change we have seen is that they are engaged and interested,” says Meghna.
Apart from their learning level and understanding, their socio-emotional skills have developed to a great extent, according to him. “We are catering to a completely neglected segment. They are learning for about two hours a day in a safe environment which is the biggest impact for us,” she added.
The Meru Aveshka team wants to share this model with other real estate developers so that all construction sites can start a daycare center.
If you are interested in knowing more about this model, you can email them (email protected).
“We want to prevent children from being left alone at home. Every child deserves a good education and a chance at a good life. Let’s give them that,” says Meghna.
Edited by Pranita Bhat