Government schools embrace phonics to build early English skills

ISABELLA GURUNG

GANGTOK,: With the aim of making reading fun, Kuzu Phonics, a homegrown initiative of the State Education Department, has been helping young children in government schools across the State take their first confident steps towards reading.

From identifying sounds and matching them with letters to blending sounds to read words such as ‘cat’, ‘bat’ and ‘mat’, Kuzu Phonics makes the early stages of English reading simple, joyful and engaging. Through games, rhymes, stories, activities and hands-on learning, children learn not just what a letter looks like, but what sound it makes and how sounds come together to make words.

The DIETs of Gangtok, Namchi and Gyalshing districts developed the homegrown initiative with technical support from Azim Premji University, Bengaluru, informed the Education Department. The initiative is currently being piloted in 30 government schools across Gyalshing, Dentam, Bermiok Martam, Nandok, Namchi, Namthang, Poklok Nandugaon and Yangang blocks across three districts, involving around 60 teachers and approximately 180 Grade 1 students.

According to the Education Department, teachers are already bringing Kuzu Phonics to life through colourful learning spaces, sound games, phonics activities and creative classroom materials. Regular school visits and meetings with school heads, teachers and parents help the team collect feedback and improve the programme.

They are also looking at changes in children before and after the introduction of Kuzu Phonics, such as their interest in English, confidence in speaking, ability to recognise sounds and letters, ability to blend sounds to make words and participation in classroom activities. Parents are also sharing the changes they notice in their children at home. This feedback is helping the team understand what is working well and what needs improvement.

“The first eight years of a child’s life are among the most critical years for human development. Neuroscience has shown that the young brain is extraordinarily receptive to its environment, with millions of neural connections being formed every second in the early years. This is why Early Child Care Education (ECCE) is not preparation for education, but the very foundation on which all future learning, wellbeing and potential are built. Hence, if we want to transform education, we must begin in pre-primary, before the child enters primary school,” informed the Education department.

“Kuzu Phonics recognises this science of early childhood development: that we are not merely preparing young children for school; we are shaping the foundations of the adults they will become. It also responds to the aspirations of parents who want their children to learn and speak English confidently from an early age. Many parents feel that good English is important for their children’s education and future. This is also why some parents prefer to send their children to private English-medium schools. By giving children in government schools more opportunities to listen, speak, play with sounds and learn to read English, Kuzu Phonics aims to strengthen English learning and build greater trust and confidence among parents in government schools,” the Department added.

Kalpana Pradhan, parent of a Class 1 student, said, “It feels good to see that my daughter has improved a lot in English. Now students don’t have to mug up the lessons at home. The government schools are teaching them using phonics. On behalf of all the guardians, I would like to thank the school and teachers.”

Another parent said, “These days, my child has improved a lot in English, especially in pronunciation and reading. Since Kuzu Phonics was introduced in her school, she reads correctly, writes perfectly and her pronunciation is also correct. She can write by hearing any sound. Earlier, during our time, we didn’t have phonics. I believe phonics studies are a must for students these days.”

According to feedback from a mother, her child could not utter or understand a word in English. However, after she joined Burtuk High School and phonics was introduced in her classes, there has been a lot of improvement in her.

“She can now read and understand English, and whenever she speaks, her words are very clear. She is confident now. Grateful to the principal of Burtuk High School and phonics teachers. She is now a happy child who can understand and speak in English,” said her mother.

The parents also thanked the State Government and the Education Department for the initiative.

“Earlier, government school students had poor English, but now, since Kuzu Phonics was introduced, we can see the improvement in all Class 1 students. Now students love to go to school too,” said the parents.

The three DIETs will use the learning and feedback emerging from the pilot in 30 schools to guide their expansion, with the mission of taking Kuzu Phonics to all government schools within the next three years.

“Kuzu Phonics is more than a phonics programme. It is an effort to ensure that every child in government schools gets a joyful and confident beginning in reading and a strong foundation for the future,” informed the Education Department.