learningnet-india.org The complete educational resource
Home What's New Profiles Activities Announcements Publications Articles Resources WWW Learning Network Learning Network Group Profiles	Gram Mangal Keywords Early Childhood, Adivasis, Tribal, Rural, Research, Development, Educational Aids, Teaching Aids, Learning Aids, kindergarten, Primary, Pre-Primary, Resource Centre, School, Training Geographical Location Pune, Maharastra Languages Marathi, Hindi, English Philosophy/Beliefs Gram-Mangal is a registered voluntary non-profit organization in the Indian state of Maharashtra that has been working on transforming Early Childhood Education (ECE) in India. They believe that good early childhood education is vitally important in determining the mental and physical health of a child. Today, an unimaginative formal education system is thrust upon children forcibly. Gram Mangal has been exploring alternative ways of ECE which are enjoyable and beneficial to the child. Objective/Mission/Goals Gram Mangal works in the border of Gujarat and Maharastra in a predominantly tribal area. It was established in 1982, by the eminent educationist Anutai Wagh, and Prof. Ramesh Panse. When these two along with other volunteers, entered the tribal area near the village of Aine-Dabhon there was no drinking water or electricity or roads. Since the beginning, Gram-Mangal has been involved with various development activities. Later, Gram-Mangal started focusing on education, and now its principal thrust is on Early Childhood Education. Gram Mangal works on research, development of methods of teaching and learning and also with social problems that tribal children face. In addition to bringing elementary education to the doorsteps of rural and tribal children, they are committed to revolutionizing the childhood education system itself, in rural and urban India alike. Work Description Gram Mangal's goals are to conduct research, development and extension activities in early childhood education, primary education, especially ECE - which is neglected in the educational planning. The current system believes that anything goes in the area of ECE. The science behind this is completely neglected. Gram Mangal has been steadily working to change this. Gram Mangal aims to conduct ongoing research, development and extension activities in the area of technical, vocational and tertiary education. They undertake rural development projects with the tribal communities. They collaborate with like-minded NGOs and take up educational research programs. Some of their current activities are A residential middle-school (Mukta-Shala) for tribal (Adivasi) children, A permanent exhibition of approximately 600 Educational Aids, a Training Center for Pre-Primary and Primary Teachers Pre-primary and Primary schools in different villages. One-Year Residential Training Course for Pre-Primary Teachers A "Creativity Center", and a small-scale Production Center for Children's Educational Aids, and Educational Programs for Parents Resources Available Reference Library of Educational Aids Training Programs Educational Program for Parents Contact Information R. K. Deole, President Jai Building , Cinema Road Ghatkopar (West) Mumbai, Maharashtra 400083 Phone: (022) 514-8396 Ramesh Panse, Trustee Sugandh, 2118 Sadashiv Peth Pune, Maharashtra 411030 Phone: (020) 433-0343 Website Links www.grammangal.org Gram Mangal’s Approach to Early Childhood Education Presentation at January 2003 conference
For more information about The Learning Network, contact info at learningnet-india dot org