Nisha da Cunha , the acclaimed educationist who revolutionised elementary schooling in Goa through inclusive, activity-based learning at the two institutions she founded — Nisha’s Play School and Shiksha Niketan — passed away on Saturday morning. She was 63.
Da Cunha was also the principal of both the schools and was considered by many to be a pathbreaker in the field of education, giving equal emphasis to literacy, life skills and psychosocial development of each of her students, especially the weakest. The schools, which began out of a flat in the Housing Board colony at Porvorim over 30 years ago, are now housed in child-friendly, green buildings at Torda. The structures were painstakingly designed by her architect husband Gerard da Cunha , and sport an amphitheatre and spaces for music, dance and art. Da Cunha pioneered the concept of ‘circle time’, an initiative that focuses on the emotional well-being of students by addressing varied issues such as the meaning of friendship, bullying, anger management and bereavement. She also promoted workshops on sexuality education for parents, to help them address questions on the subject from their children. Health check-up camps for children of both schools are a regular feature each academic year, as is ‘market day’, which enables students to learn the nuances of shopping while honing their math and social interaction skills. Source: TOI Anish Esteves Follow: @AEthejourno www.anishesteves.home.blog Subscribe:https://anishesteves.substack.com/