Dipika Bal Mandir was started as a model Montessori school for pre schoolers in Marathi medium for children of lower income groups. It was founded in the year 1981. The school started with five students on the roll. Today the strength of the school is eighty, with many more on the waiting list. Children aged two and half years to five and a half years, divided into three groups, are given informal instruction which aims at their all round development. The all-round development of the child is in fact the guiding principle of the school. The daily school routine therefore has activities which would help achieve this goal. From 12 to 3 pm children are kept busy doing physical, mental, emotional, social activities as well as doing activities that involve motor skills. Plenty of outdoor games have been made available for their healthy physical and social development. All important social and religious festivals e.g. Dahi Handi, Narali Pornima, Sankranti, Dasara, Diwali etc. are celebrated in the school. Apart from these all other usual features of every school are also organised here. The Annual Gathering, Sports Day, School Exhibition are all very important events. The little ones even go for a picnic. The children always win a number of prizes in inter school competitions in play acting, singing, dancing, recitation and sports.

A meaningful effort

Parents are invited to join in every celebration. It is believed that cooperation between children, parents and teachers can bring about the total individual development of a child. The medium of instruction of the school is Marathi. No donation of any kind is taken for giving admission to the school. The school is completely self-sufficient i.e. it is run entirely on the fees collected from the student. Free-ship is also made available to a really needy student. All three teachers are trained. Each one looks after a particular group. The school has two helpers and five supervisors: One supervisor is on duty everyday. All supervisors are doing honorary work. All the children who have passed out from this model school have been able to secure admission in the desired schools.