Gijubhai Badekha

ORGANIZATION AND MANAGEMENT OF ECCD PROGRAMMES

Lesson 03: Application of educational philosophies / theories to ECE

Gijubhai Badekha (1885- 1939)

• Gijubhai was a great pioneer in the field of pre- school education in India. His experiments were greatly influenced by the writings of Maria Montessori.
• He promoted the child’s sensitivity to be respected. He should not be treated as a “miniature adult.” An adult can only guide the child not bully him or her either about learning or cleanliness.
• Gijubhai has written a large number of books in Gujarati mostly for children. They include stories, rhymes and songs. He also wrote for parents and guardians of children.
• He created the concept of Bal Mandir for children where there would be no fear of a cane;
  a place to which they would go willingly and not be dragged or bribed by parents. The atmosphere of Bal Mandir was flooded with the songs, riddles and stories. This approach excludes examinations and gradation in conventional sense. Children have to pass one phase
  of development to the other. Words like ‘Bal Mandir’, ‘Kishore Mandir’ and ‘Vinay Mandir’ have been preferred instead of ‘Primary’, ‘Middle’ and ‘high school’.
• A child is a complete person who has intellect, emotions, mind and understanding, has strengths and weaknesses and has likes and dislikes. We should understand the emotions of the child.



complete person


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