Monday, January 7, 2008

A Brief Profile of Dr. Anju Khanna

Dr. Anju Khanna has 23 years of experience in the field of education. Her moorings are seeped in Shri Aurobindo and the Mother’s philosophy of education as empowerment for the psychic, vital and mental growth of the child and therein of a community.

At present Dr. Khanna is:

  • R&D Head of a group of Nursery Schools, called The Circle, Which are sought after for their content, philosophy and staff training.
  • She is also an author of textbooks and value based stories for children.
  • She is on the panel of NCERT authors for Primary education.
  • She is a sought after resource person , for master trainers -primary text books in English at NCERT
  • She has extensively worked on additions/deletions on Montessori, Thematic and Experiential form of learning both in terms of content, methodology and tool making.
  • She conducts training programs and provides consultancy services to the Primary Wing of Senior Schools of Delhi, Noida, Gurgaon, Bangalore, Chennai, Vadodra & Patna for curriculum and empowerment of staff related to the ‘inside-outside’ phenomena of education in terms of milestone variations.
  • The Circle under her, both at Delhi and Gurgaon, is emerging as an integrated set-up for children with learning difficulties and spectrum disorders.
  • She is currently on a quest for undertaking research in E.C.C.E practices in the country and the social /psychological impact on young children.
  • She is also attached as an active member with forums related to the discovery of the self (Astha Foundation) both as a learner and a facilitator.

Her academic background fuels her desire for continuous research into the academic, emotional and psychic needs of children

1978-1994

Her many qualifications include

  • A ‘Gold Medal’ for being the ‘best all-rounder student’ of her University.
  • Post Graduation in English Literature (organized debates, writing workshops, seminars, symposiums, guest speaker lectures, audio-video society, college magazine). She topped the university at the Post Graduate level
  • Appointed as a lecturer in the Post Graduate College.
  • She did her M. Phil.
  • She did her Ph.D. in English Literature with special emphasis on relationships along with
  • A stint at State College Pennsylvania USA as a teacher on an exchange program.

It was during this period that she interacted with a large number of pre - nursery schools, not only imbibing their methodology but also contributing to their syllabus by providing inputs on Parental Time Management techniques with young children.

  • On returning to India, Dr. Khanna gave up her Readers position at the University to start a small playgroup from her residence. (The culmination of a dream she had since her own school days.)