Gajendra Verma, the founder of Kanka-Gajendra Foundation. Picture by Jai Prakash

Patna, Sept. 12: Parents and teachers should recognise the special qualities in a child. Gajendra Verma, the founder of UK-based Kanka-Gajendra Foundation (KGF), said this while on a recent visit to the state capital.

A pioneer in modern educational methodology in the UK, Verma, 76, has played an important role in establishing a world-class reputation in UK universities for research on issues like equality and social justice.

His foundation aims at making changes in the traditional way of education and promote a more practical approach to learning through field exposure.

Verma is now ready to bring about changes in education in Bihar. KGF has tied up with India-based Association for Promotion of Creative Learning (APCL) to set up a first of its kind centre in the state to provide remedial measures for children with learning difficulties like dyslexia, dyscalculia and attention deficit hyperactivity disorder. The centre would come up at School of Creative Learning, run by APCL on the outskirts of Patna.

Verma said: “Kids here have a lot of potential. They are very intelligent but they lack the opportunity. When these same kids go outside Bihar, they do very well but are not able to perform in their own state. I was impressed when I came to know about the School of Creative Leaning. I decided to fund the association, as the way of teaching at the school is more practical. They focus on a child’s overall development rather than forcing them to stick to prescribed books.”

Verma, who was born in Motihari, pursued school from Mangal Missionary High School, Motihari. He completed his bachelors and masters in psychology from Patna University and went to the UK in 1958 for higher studies in psychology. Later, he became one of the first representatives from an ethnic minority background to be appointed a professor in faculty of education in the UK. He was also appointed the first dean of research and graduate school of the faculty of education at University of Manchester. The university also conferred on him the title of Emeritus professor for his contribution to educational patterns.

On being asked about the changes that should be brought about in the present education system in India, Verma said: “It is very important to have a teacher, who does a lot of field research before taking classes. Exams should not be based on books because it binds the mind of a child. The children should be given the freedom to choose subjects at a young age. Every child has a special quality and it the duty of parents and teachers to recognise it. I also feel that society puts pressure on children to do academically well without even being concerned about the child’s interest. It is very important to develop an understanding of your surroundings rather than just focus on bookish knowledge. I have always believed in promoting change in primary education, as a child can learn things more easily and develop a rational thinking over a period of time.

“When I went to the UK in 1958, there was lot of racism. As an educationist, I always wanted to bring change but I chose to do it through evolution and not revolution. That is the reason I wrote around 30 books and more than 100 articles in journals to bring change in the society. I wrote on equality and social justice and my sole aim was to bring changes in the curriculum and make young kids aware about things happening around them.”

Past initiatives of the KGF include providing clean water in flood-affected Madhubani district in 2008, providing scholarships to school students to assist completion of their education at Rammohun Roy Seminary, Patna, provide annual merit fellowship in postgraduate department of psychology at Patna University and others.

The foundation also plans to provide free eye check-up camps for children in and around Patna.