Kolkata gets "enrichment centre" for young children

Kolkata, Nov 21 (UNI) Children in Kolkata will now be groomed under global standards as they gear up for a larger than life experience to face future challenges with the inauguration of its first centre in the state today.

Colorado-based company FasTracKids, which has centres in 40 countries, inaugurated its first centre in the eastern region of the country. It has centres in Baroda, Kochi, Kerala, Chennai, Mumbai and Bangalore.

The centre was officially inaugurated by US Consul General Henry V Jardine.

Catering to children between the ages of six months and eight years, the FasTracKids ''enrichment'' centres aim at preparing them for the years ahead by teaching them cognitive skills and gaining self-confidence.

With different programmes suitable for different ages, these centres enable kids to cope with peer pressure, learn the basics of subjects they will come across in school and college levels, including biology and earth sciences, economics and mathematics, natural sciences and technology.

These apart, they will learn how to freely communicate with people of different ages, think independently and judge their environment, and other forms of creative arts like acting, singing, dancing and delivering a speech.

Claiming that these are well-tested procedures for enrichment and education of the children, FasTracKids' franchise Peach Tree Enrichment Centre Managing Partner Vishal Shroff said, ''This revolutionary mode of learning is a one-two year programme, depending on the course being taught.'' The programmes, created specifically for each age group, are weekly programmes spanning 12 months for the Music Enrichment Programme and 24 months for the Tots and Core programmes. Sixteen children will be accommodated per session for the two faculties.

''Our faculty members are specially trained in Bangalore, under direct supervision of our mother organisation in Denver, Colorado, to give children the best care and training to cope with the mental needs of childhood,'' Vasudha Bagri, the other Managing Partner said.

UNI