Gijju Bhai Badheka (15 November 1885-23 June 1939) born in Chittal, was on educator who helped to introduce Montessori education methods to India. He is referred to as "Moochhali Maa" (Mother with wispers).
Badheka was a high court lawyer, however, following the birth of his son in 1923, he developed an interest in childhood development and education.
In 1920, Badheka founded the "Bal Mandir", pre-primar school. Badheka published a number of works in the field of education including Divaswapana.
In 1920, Badheka also founded the Bal Mandir Kindergarten later Nanabhai Bhatt, Harbhai Trivedi and Badheka built the "Shree Dakshinamwiti Gijju Bhai Vinay Mandir" school in Bhavnagar.
Badheka was born in the Saurashtra region of western India. His given (first) name was "Girijashankar" Badheka grew up in Bhavnagar, a city in the western India state of Gujarat.
In 1907, he moved to East Africa and later Bombay for work. Badheka died on 23June 1939 in Bhavnagar, India.
His contribution to education:
In 1920, Badheka (Gijju Bhai), founded the Bal Mandir Kindergarten.
Later Nanabhai Bhatt, Harbhai Trivedi and Badheka built the "Shree Dakshinamurti Gijjubhai Vinay Mandir" School in Bhavnagar.
Published Work :
Badheka published close to 200 works including storybook. His topics include children, education, travel and humour. However, his focus was books for children, parents and educators.
Gijju Bhai's child centered education :
Child centered education is a sort of revolt against subject-centered education. Child centered education seeks to provide natural flow of activity and spontaneous growth of the child. He must be allowed to enjoy complete freedom of action subject to the condition that he should not interfere with the freedom of others.
The teacher's role is that of an interested observer and at the best that of a guide who encourages advises and stimulates the child, if and when needed. The child is stimulated to activity by his own felt needs and inner drives.
Learning takes place as he strikes to meet his needs and gives expression to his drives. Here immediate purpose and interest are the motivating factors, which may go on changing with the situations, modern education is child centered.
Characteristics of child centered education :
As child is the center of education, development of mind, body, and spirit of the child. It should be reflected in the programme and planning of education.
The following points need to be considered for promoting child centered education :
Freedom was granted to the child to discover things than getting second hand information through books. Emphasis was as they like gives one the freedom of children to learn and create.
Gijju bhai developed plays, games and songs and occupation designed especially to stimulate the child's self activity. He laid great stress one self development of the child and child's activity should stem from his own interests.
- Process of spontaneous development :
The child progresses at ideas own speed in a subject. The role of the teacher is to understand the child. The child's freedom and individuality have found expression spontaneously in the lap of nature.
- Development of interest and needs :
The educations of child depends on his interest and needs. The physical, social, moral and spiritual development of the child's is "The main objectives" of the child centered education.
- Education-based on experience :
The main objective of child centered education is to enable the child to learn through experience which is permanent. The course and subjects should be experience oriented to meet the need of the child.
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