Admission to Montessori classes opens

Islamabad: The admission to Montessori classes in Islamabad’s selected government schools is open, now.

The Federal Directorate of Education, which oversees public sector educational institutions in ICT, has invited applications for admission to such classes for the academic calendar 2016-17.

These schools have 30 seats each with the overall tally reaching 150.

Initially, the Montessori classes have been started at five schools, including, under the Islamabad Model School for Boys F-8/3, Islamabad Model School for Boys F-7/1, Islamabad Model School for Boys F-10/4, Islamabad Model School for Boys Sohan and Islamabad Model School for Boys Khanna Daak.

Afterwards, all other government educational institutions of the ICT will have such classes.

The initiative, which is part of the Prime Minister’s Educational Reforms Programme overseen by the prime minister's daughter, Maryam Nawaz, is the first in the country’s history.

Currently, only privately-owned schools offer Montessori education in the city.

With those of good repute charging exorbitant fee, the people from low income groups either don’t give their children the formal preschool education or enrol them for the purpose in low-quality schools.

According to an official of the FDE, the interested parents can secure admission forms from the respective schools from today (Monday).

The last date to submit forms is April 11, while the list of the children securing admission will be issued on April 14.

The Montessori classes will begin on April 18.

The official said only the children of Islamabad-based people would be eligible to apply for admission and that the maximum age of such children should be three and a half years.

Besides free education, the Montessori students will also be given books and lunch, including light food and milk.