Interview Times 
We explore the realm of early childhood education in an exclusive interview with Ms. Prachi Kanungo, the dynamic founder of Our Saplings Playschool. After over two decades in the education industry, Ms. Prachi Kanungo has brought about a paradigm shift in the way children gain knowledge and develop. Her groundbreaking contributions to the development of interactive and efficient learning systems have significantly transformed the educational domain, establishing her as a highly regarded authority in the field.
For her exceptional contributions to the field of education, she has received several prestigious accolades, including the Darpan Sanman Award from the International Human Rights Defenders. Additionally, she received the Mother Award from the Modern Organization for Truth Harmony, and Economic Reality. Recognizing her outstanding achievements, she received the Biju Patnaik State Youth Award from the Chief Minister of Odisha and was bestowed with an award by the Governor of Kolkata through the East Zonal Cultural Centre, Kolkata.
Her musical talents have not gone unnoticed, as evidenced by her reception of the Sangeet Prativa Award and the Balakrushna Foundation Award in Odissi Vocal. Furthermore, she holds the distinction of being a BHigh Grade artist of All India Radio and an artist of Doordarshan. Her commitment to women’s empowerment was acknowledged when she received an award from Mahila Suvikas on behalf of Our Saplings Playschool in celebration of International Women’s Day. Her trajectory, which commences in Cuttack is replete with ingenuity, fervor, and an unwavering dedication to fostering the development of young scholars. This Q&A session delves into her background, philosophy on early childhood education, and her remarkable contributions to the field.
1: Can you please tell us about yourself and your background?
Myself Ms. Prachi Kanungo, I was born on January 31st January, and Founder of Our Saplings Playschool. An Edupreneur who enjoys an enviable reputation in the education industry, for pioneering efforts in early childhood education in Odisha besides creating a fertile ecosystem for education entrepreneurship. I have two branches of Our Saplings Playschool in Cuttack one in TULSIPUR and the other in CDA. I am highly passionate and committed to the cause of instilling 21st-century skills in young learners.
I was brought up in Cuttack with roots originating from a simple middle-class lawyer family. My father, Mr Kamadev Kanungo was a Lawyer, and My mother, Mrs Rashmi Kanungo was a teacher.
With a vast experience of 20+ years. In the field of education, I come with dynamic leadership and administrative skills. An ardent researcher. You will often find me browsing on latest trends and developments in education. I also enjoy reading, singing, and travelling. I am pursuing my Doctorate in Music Therapy from the Utkal University of Culture.
2: What inspired you to start Our Saplings Playschool?
I always wanted to open a playschool that aims to revolutionize the way children learn and grow. I have over 20 years of experience in the education sector,10 years as a Pre-primary teacher at DAV PUBLIC SCHOOL & 10 years as a HOD of the Performing Arts Department at DELHI PUBLIC SCHOOL, one of the leading private education organizations in India and abroad. I was passionate about creating engaging and effective learning systems that cater to the diverse needs and interests of young learners. I along with my Co-founder Tanzim Nikhat pioneered several innovative concepts and methodologies that transformed the landscape of preschool. I wanted to pursue my passion for education innovation and learner-centric curriculum development, with a focus on experiential and holistic learning.
3: What is your philosophy on early childhood education?
Early childhood education is all about helping a baby to grow into a well-adjusted human being. The process starts early – as early as the child’s first step away from home and into the world created by teachers. In early childhood education, the learning environment will be one that is bright, secure, motivating, and fun, so that the children are encouraged to achieve their full potential. This is achieved, both indoors and outdoors, through a combination of spontaneous play and intentional teaching. We at Our Saplings Playschool have developed a holistic approach designed to satisfy the child in a social, emotional, physical, spiritual, lingual, and intellectual sense. Early childhood education encourages children to be proud of who they are, achieving their fullest potential in interpersonal relationships, work, and play. This develops the child’s feeling of self-worth, independence, autonomy, and self-discipline. So early childhood education leads to maintaining an atmosphere that is positive, peaceful, and productive for the child.
4: How has your legal background influenced your work in education?
One big thing that has been eradicated from my system because of my law background is FEAR. Our Saplings Playschool has a legal team at the backdrop in order to move forward courageously. The awareness of legal technicalities helped me a lot as a school administrator.
5: What are your goals for the playschool?
For the time being, we are aiming to become one of the leading Preschool in Cuttack and our vision is to become one of the best preschool chains in Odisha.
6: What are some of the key things that you focus on in your teaching?
At Our Saplings, we value high standards and achievement. We encourage our children to think independently, to make links in their learning, and to respect the world they live in. Along with a stimulating learning environment, we provide a well-equipped infrastructure that includes modern buildings, digital boards, water purifiers, safety and security measures, hygienic spaces, talking pens, engaging play areas, and CCTV surveillance. We foster a sense of trust and commitment by providing constant support and maintaining open communication channels with both students and parents.
7: How do you create a safe and nurturing environment for your students?
The environment in which young children learn plays a significant role in their overall development. At Our Saplings, our curriculum is designed in a way that promotes a healthy, safe, and stimulating atmosphere for children. A healthy learning environment includes elements that cater to children’s physical, emotional, and mental well-being, providing a holistic approach to education.
8: How does your PhD in Music Therapy relate to your work in education?
Music can be very therapeutic. It is in the first three years of life that a child is forming the brain connections that will lay the foundation for the speech/language, motor, and cognitive skills they will use for years to come. Musical experiences are an important way to help young children create these pathways, also called neural connections. We at Our Saplings Playschool inculcate music by introducing our kids to various musical and rhythmic rhymes, sloka chanting, various musical sounds by playing various musical instruments, musical storytelling sessions, etc. We have seen in these past years this musical therapy has helped the kids having speech issues and special kids a lot.
9: Can you explain your role as a resource person for CBSE Capacity Building Programmes?
Quality concerns in school education are among the priorities of CBSE as they play a pivotal role in the development of the country. The Board is committed to making provisions for various training programs for teachers and principals to enhance their understanding of curriculum and delivery mechanisms and other professional qualities. Through the Cascade mode, the Board selects and trains master trainers and mentors to ensure the benefits of these programs percolate down to all the teachers and students in the schools.
So I was a RESOURCE PERSON wherein CBSE used to send me to various CBSE SCHOOLS all over India to train the teachers on topics like Classroom Management, Early Childhood Education, Inclusive Education, Gender sensitivity, Life Skills, Adolescent education, etc
10: Do you have any future plans for Our Saplings Playschool or education?
Our Future Plan is to make Our Saplings Playschool one of the best preschool chains in Odisha.
Ms. Prachi Kanungo’s trajectory in the field of education serves as evidence of her resolute commitment and ingenuity. Her distinctive blend of legal expertise and music therapy experience has significantly contributed to the accomplishments of Our Saplings Playschool. With an eye toward the future, She harbors ambitions to establish Our Saplings Playschool as a preeminent preschool franchise in the state of Odisha. Her aspirations for Our Saplings Playschool continue to inspire a brighter future for young learners in Odisha.
