‘Kinder Pandas’ Orientation Programme Highlights Importance of Early Childhood Education

April 7, 2025

Kinder Pandas Play School, located at DLF Valley here, hosted a special orientation programme aimed at raising awareness about the importance of early childhood education. The session marked a significant milestone as Kinder Pandas became the first play school in the tricity region to introduce the world-renowned Finnish pedagogy into its curriculum.

The orientation was conducted by Rachna Lalwani, Country Head of Onni Education, an international early education partner known for promoting Finland’s best practices in early learning. Mr.Olli Kamunen,CEO of Onni Education, also joined the session live via video conference from Finland, sharing insights on Finland’s globally recognized and research based educational approach.

Speaking on the occasion, Sikander Singh, Director of Kinder Pandas Play School, said: “We are proud to bring the best of global early education practices to the tricity. The Finnish approach not only emphasizes academics but also fosters emotional, physical, and social well-being of children through play-based and child-led learning.”

Sikander informed that according to the latest World Happiness Report 2025, Finland has been ranked as the happiest country in the world for the eighth consecutive year and that this has a lot to do with the edifice of the ‘Unique Finnish Pedagogy’ that children are exposed to right at the start of their schooling.

Sapna Chandel, Principal of the school, said, “This pedagogy is all about nurturing curiosity, creativity, and confidence in children. We believe this step will help redefine early learning experiences in our region.”

The Finnish model of early childhood education stands out globally for its child-centered, play-based, and inclusive approach. Key pillars include encouraging active participation of children in their own learning, emphasizing outdoor and nature-based learning, reducing formal assessments in favour of observational insights, and supporting holistic development—intellectual, emotional, and physical

“Our decision to adopt this research-backed pedagogy signifies a major leap in the evolution of early education in the region, promising a joyful and empowering journey for young learners,” added Sikander Singh.