A Study to Identify School Readiness in Pre School Children 3 to 4 Years

Abstract

This study aimed at finding the prevalence of children who are ready for school, both by gender and age. The study also aimed to study if the predictive factors for children who were not ready for school was different when compared to children who were ready. This chapter summarises the findings of the study in keeping with the objectives of the study. The overall prevalence of children who were ready for school was similar to other studies from developed countries on the domains of Arts and scientific thinking and was comparable to the data from similar socio demographic sample. School readiness has been stated to be an important pre-requisite for academic and socio-emotional achievement in school. The present study highlighted the importance of school readiness in the Indian school setting. The prevalence of school readiness being lower than in the other countries creates the need for regular assessment of school readiness of children when they are young and before they join pre-school. The findings of the present study validate the influence of teacher and school factors and home and parent factors on school readiness. The study therefore reiterates assessment of these factors and planning for effective intervention. Despite its limitations the study brings to light the different predictors for children being and#8215;not ready for school. This study has far reaching effects for children in India in that it has identified variables that individually or together influence school readiness in young children. Further research and development of programs that target the variables and promote school readiness in young children will bring about a generation that is academically enabled and socially competent. The principle goal of education in the schools should be creating men and women who are capable of doing new things, not simply repeating what other generations have done; men and women who are creative, inventive and discoverers, who can be critical and verify, and not accept, everything they are offeredquot.