Young learners strike gold at Creative Explorers School

DAR ES SALAAM: ONE of the fundamental practices that ought to be keenly observed during construction activities is making a strong foundation that can withstand any storm.

The same formula applies to the long journey of acquiring education, whereby the background has to be strengthened if one needs to reach far and excel in this endeavor.

Indeed, when a child is given an opportunity to attain a good pre-school education, there is no doubt for him or her to adapt to any learning environment to be exposed as they grow up.

This means education base should be given much priority and it is also the area that demands massive investment from both the private and public sectors.

A common African proverb states that a tree is straightened while it is still young…which in education circles, it can be translated to mean that once the grassroots level is not well nurtured, it can be difficult for a learner to bounce back on track.

This is the delicate phase whereby a child has to learn how to read, write, and count, hence it requires passionate and dedicated teachers to sharpen the minds of the young learners.

The role played by the private sector in promoting education standards in the country cannot go without being appreciated, as they are investing heavily to complement efforts by the government.

This can be supported by the launching of the magnificent Creative Explorers Pre School located in Dar es Salaam, which is dedicated to offering a modern teaching and learning environment to children.

Interestingly, despite being the first time that the school is opening doors to young learners, children who were accompanied by parents and guardians on the day went straight to action.

They simply enjoyed what they saw, and some of them were reluctant to leave a sign that the facility is an ideal beehive for nurturing young minds.

Purely, in today’s world, it is crystal clear that academic papers alone are not enough to make someone prosper, but also, personal character matters, and this is a quality designed to be offered at the school.

“At a tender age is when you can be able to sharpen one’s destiny, meaning that if anything messes up at this stage, then it becomes difficult to realize the character of our children,” said the school’s Founding Partner and Chief Nurturer, Ms Tayamika Mattao.

She continued: “Everything begins from the roots and here we are at the root…the learning environment is child-centered, purposely to attract the  attention of these young learners.

“We have a unique blended curriculum which combines the hands-on independence of the Montessori method with the structured, well-rounded approach of the Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS) to nurture a holistic environment.

“Our curriculum abides by Tanzanian cultural values, based on the fact that these children are Tanzanians, and as we strive to prepare them for the world, it is important to arm them with our traditional values.”

Furthermore, she elaborated that the offered curriculum is legible to prepare those learners who will later choose to join the Cambridge curriculum offered by many international schools.

“Similarly, we have passionate and certified educators since our teachers are the heart of this school…they are well-trained, caring professionals who provide personalized attention in small class sizes, ensuring every child is seen and heard,” she said.

Indeed, a school should be an enjoyable place where learners voluntarily feel ready to go when they wake up, rather than being forced to…in other words, it has to be their second home.

Try to imagine a world where children are the ones waking their parents up each morning so that they can be prepared to go to school such children can be guaranteed a brighter academic and prosperous post-academic life

ALSO READ: Early learning shapes Tanzania’s future

“We will ensure that there is good cooperation between the school and parents for the sake of properly grooming these young learners together so that what they acquire here should be acceptable to parents and the community at large.

“Creativity will be fostered here…all the drawings you see around are meaningful to them (children) and that is part of their long learning trip they will be exposed to during their studies,” Ms Mattao remarked.

She also revealed that Baby Class (ages 1.5 to 3 years) will be exposed to a gentle introduction to school life, while Middle Class (ages 3 to 4 years) will be taken through the introduction of fundamental concepts in literacy and math through structured play, group activities, and creative expression.

For Pre-Unit (ages 4 to 6 years), they will be treated to building school readiness with a focus on problem-solving, collaborative projects, and a deeper exploration of academic subjects to ensure a confident transition to Primary School.