Description
COURSE COMPONENTS
The AMI Primary Montessori Diploma Course (3-6 Age Level) is an intensive full time programme designed to help students study closely the theory and practice of the Montessori approach to education. The modular course will be delivered over 25 weeks in 4 modules and will help prepare students for working with children from 3 to 6 years of age. Dr. Montessori developed her core philosophy with this age group and the course deals with seminal ideas of her pedagogy.
THEORY LECTURES
The theory lectures will offer the students the opportunity to examine the development of the whole child, and the successive phases of child development. Special consideration is given to the formative psychic powers of the child that leads to all-round development. The carefully prepared environment and materials and the role and attitude of the adult will also be studied.
DEMONSTRATION LECTURES
The practical demonstration lectures deal with the function and presentation of the materials offered to children from 3 to 6 years of age in a Montessori environment. The aims of the materials, the technique of presenting them to the child and the age at which they must be offered will be discussed in these sessions.
SUPERVISED PRACTICE
During scheduled hours students will have an opportunity to practice with the materials. Students will be supervised and guided in the use of the materials and encouraged to develop and practice the techniques by which they will present the various materials to children.
CARE OF THE ENVIRONMENT
Students will also be asked to take responsibility for the environment everyday just as they would when they are with children. This is an essential aspect of the training that develops the students’ eye for the care and maintenance of the material and helps them to develop a familiarity with the setup of a Montessori environment.
SCHOOL OBSERVATION AND TEACHING PRACTICE
Students will be assigned to go to various Montessori environments in the city for observation and teaching practice. During this time they will be shown how to keep a record of observations and as well as have an opportunity to work directly with children under the supervision of an AMI trained adult. Students will need to budget for their commute to the various city schools.
ASSIGNMENTS AND ALBUMS
Students will need to submit written work at regular intervals during the course, which will include theory essays, material making assignments and observation reports. Students will also prepare four Albums in the different areas – Practical Life, Sensorial, Language and Mathematics. Students will need to do four to six hours of organised work at home every day in order to complete all assignments.
EMAIL AND INTERNET ACCESS
Students will need access to Email and the internet as information will be sent to them regularly by email. Some assignments will need to be submitted electronically.
LANGUAGE
All lectures will be in English. Course work will need to be presented in English both orally and in writing. It will be necessary for students to take comprehensive lecture notes and write original essays and prepare assignments based on course information. Students will also be required to explain theoretical principles during the Oral examination.
ATTENDANCE
Students must have 90% attendance for each aspect of the course including time taken off due to illness. Attendance records will be meticulously maintained throughout the year. In case of absence, students should notify the Director of Training in writing, at least one day in advance. In case of illness the student should inform the training centre by phone or email immediately.
EXAMINATION
The students’ eligibility for appearing for the Examination will depend on the following:
• 90% attendance for each aspect of the course
• Punctual completion and submission of all assignments called for in the course of the year
• Full payment of the fees
• Completion of required hours of School Teaching Practice
• Completion of required hours of School Observations
• Completion of required hours of Supervised Practice
There will be two written examinations. Paper A will be on psychology and theory. Paper B will be on the practical aspects with the underpinning principles. There will also be an oral examination in which students will be asked to present the use of the material and explain the underlying theory.
An external examiner will be appointed by AMI to conduct the examinations. The diploma is awarded by the Association Montessori Internationale after a successful written and oral examination and completion of all requirements for certification. The decision of the board of examiners will be final and binding. No appeals will be entertained after results are released.
Registered students who for valid reasons fail to appear for the examinations on the scheduled dates at the appointed time may be given the opportunity to appear at the examinations held the following year thereafter. They will have to apply for this opportunity in writing with a full and acceptable explanation. In case of medical grounds, a registered practitioner must attest the medical certificate. They will be charged the Examination Fee for the re-examination. Students appearing for re-examination in any of the four parts can do so ONLY the following year. They will be required to attend additional classes for which they will be charged a fee. They will also be charged the Examination Fee for the re-examination. Students who fail in the examination or re-examination and still wish to attain an AMI diploma will have to undergo another full course of training for which they will be charged the full Course fees including Examination Fee.
ELIGIBILITY
Candidates fulfilling the following requirements will be considered eligible for admission into the course. The candidate should have:
• Completed 20 years of age
• A Bachelor’s degree
• A sound knowledge of English
• Basic computer skills and email access
We welcome candidates from all walks of life and different professions.
ADMISSION PROCEDURE
Admissions are on a first come first served basis. Early bird fee is available for the Diploma course. To avail this offer, all registration formalities including payment of the course fee needs to be completed on or before 31st January, 2024. Post this date regular fees will be applicable. Admissions for FOREIGN NATIONALS will close on May 15, 2024.
Applications must be submitted with all enclosures. The Admissions Review Committee will process all completed applications. The decision of the committee will be final and binding.
APPLICATION
To be considered for admission you need to submit the following document by email as an attachment:
• Application Form duly filled in and signed by the applicant with one photo affixed.
• Self attested copy of your highest level education certificate and academic transcript which must be a Bachelors, Graduate or Post Graduate level or above, saved as a .pdf file
- Letters of reference from current or previous employers.
• Application Fee payment details. - Refund Policy Acceptance letter.
- HANDWRITTENessay (about 500 words) on ’An Overview of My Life’
| Fees | Indian Nationals, OCI card holders and NRI (Rs.) | Foreign Nationals, Asians and Afrians (US$) | Due |
| Application fee | 3,369 | 85 | |
| CGST @ 9% | 303 | – | |
| SGST @ 9% | 303 | – | |
| TOTAL | 3,975 | 85 | With Application |
INTERVIEW
An online zoom interview will be arranged after the application is received. Students may be required to take an English check.
ADMISSION CONFIRMATION
Selected candidates will receive a letter of acceptance with a last date for the payment of fees. Once the fees are paid the candidate will receive an acknowledgement of the payment and subsequently a letter of confirmation along with the schedule for the first day.
COURSE SCHEDULE AND TIMING
The course runs in 4 modules from 8:45 AM to 3:15 PM Monday to Friday. Students will be asked to be extremely punctual. Latecomers will be marked absent for half the session.
It is a classroom-based programme, which requires hands-on practice with the materials. However keeping in mind the current situation, the first module will be an online one. Keeping the stringent standards that AMI courses reflect, the remaining modules will unfold onsite at the Montessori Institute of Bangalore.
DIPLOMA
The AMI diploma is awarded by the Association Montessori Internationale. It qualifies the holder to work with children in a Montessori environment between 3 and 6 years of age. Diploma holders have great opportunities to find employment in India and abroad. The diploma is recognised throughout the world. Many diploma holders have started their own schools.
FEES
Registrations are open and you could register now to avail the Pre-Early bird offer!
- Early bird fee is Rs.110,700 (for Indian nationals), Rs.132,840 (for NRI and OCI card holders), US$3636 (for Asian and African nationals) and US$4545 (for Foreign nationals), for all complete application documents reaching us extebded till 29th February, 2024.
- To avail early bird offer, all registration formalities including payment of the course fee needs to be completed post Interview meeting and due date as mentioned on the Letter of Acceptance. Full payment of the course fees need to be made on or before 29th February, 2024. Post this date regular fees will be applicable.
- Regular fee is Rs.135,000 (for Indian nationals), Rs.162,000 (for NRI and OCI card holders), US$4367 (for Asian and African nationals) and US$5459 (for Foreign nationals) for all complete application documents reaching us on or after 1st March, 2024 till seats are available.
Early bird Fee structure for applications reaching us before 31st January, 2024
| Fees | Indian Nationals (INR) | Foreign Nationals (US$) | NRI and OCI card holders (INR) | Asian and African Nationals (US$) | Due |
| Tuition | 72,236 | 3,500 | 102,287 | 2,800 | |
| Examination | 10,319 | 500 | 14,612 | 400 | As mentioned |
| Special Fee | 11,258 | 545 | 15,941 | 436 | on the Letter |
| CGST @9% | 8,443 | NA | NA | NA | of Acceptance |
| SGST @9% | 8,443 | NA | NA | NA | after the zoom |
| Total | 110,700 | 4,040 | 132,840 | 3,636 | interview |
Regular Fee structure for applications reaching us on or after 1st February, 2024
| Fees | Indian Nationals (Rs.) | Foreign Nationals (US$) | NRI and OCI card holders (INR) | Asian and African Nationals (US$) | Due |
| Tuition | 88,092 | 4,203 | 124,740 | 3,363 | |
| Examination | 12,584 | 601 | 17,820 | 480 | As mentioned |
| Special Fee | 13,730 | 655 | 19,440 | 524 | on the Letter |
| CGST @ 9% | 10,297 | NA | NA | NA | of Acceptance |
| SGST @ 9 % | 10,297 | NA | NA | NA | after the zoom |
| Total | 135,000 | 5,459 | 162,000 | 4,367 | interview |
The last date to submit an application for Foreign Nationals is 15th March, 2024.
No applications from Foreign Nationals will be accepted after this date.
Indian Nationals, OCI card holders and NRI’s may pay the fees by means of Bank Transfer in Indian Currency in favour of Montessori Institute of Bangalore. Foreign Nationals, Asians and African Nationals must pay the fees in US Dollars by means of Bank Transfer (or preferably through TransferWise in INR equivalent to US dollars) in favour of Montessori Institute of Bangalore payable in Bangalore.
REFUND POLICY
The fee is non-refundable. Once paid it cannot be refunded for any reason either prior to the commencement of or during the course on withdrawal of a student. Students will be required to submit a Refund Policy Acceptance letter at the time of payment of fee.
ADMISSION CONFIRMATION
Selected candidates will receive a Letter of Acceptance with a last date for the payment of fees. Once the fees are paid the candidate will receive a letter of confirmation along with the schedule for the first day.
FACULTY
DIRECTOR OF TRAINING: SUNEETA MADNANI
Suneeta Madnani, has served on the Training Team with the Navadisha Montessori Foundation in Bangalore since 2013. Since 2010, she has been a part of the Montessori Teacher Training faculty at AMI courses run in Mumbai, Kerala and Hangzhou in China. She and her colleagues have run AMI Assistants Courses in Mumbai and Bangalore. In her role as an AMI Primary Trainer she has helped consult with schools to support Montessori practice in the classroom. Suneeta has been a speaker at national conferences and other forums. She currently holds the post of Editor of the Montessori Matters, the journal of the Indian Montessori Foundation. She joined the AMI Montessori Training of Trainers programme in May 2010. Suneeta gained her AMI Montessori Diploma at the 3-6 age level at the RTI Montessori Course, Mumbai in 1997. Suneeta worked with children first at Casa Bambino Montessori and then at Activity School in Mumbai and brings over a decade of experience, and her faith built up in the philosophy, to her work.
DIRECTOR OF TRAINING: ANAHITA GANDHI
Anahita Gandhi has served on the Training Team with the Navadisha Montessori Foundation in Bangalore since 2015. She currently works in Hangzhou and Chongqing, China as a member of the AMI faculty. She has served as a part of the training team at the RTI Montessori Course in Mumbai and assisted as a member of faculty on the 3-6 course in Thrissur, Kerala. Along with her colleagues she has run several Assistant Courses across Mumbai. She joined the AMI Training of Trainers in 2009. Anahita received her AMI Montessori Diploma at the 3-6 level at the RTI Montessori Course, Mumbai in 2001. Since then she has worked in Montessori schools in Bangalore at Arunodoy Montessori House of Children and in Mumbai at Activity High School and l’Ecole Montessori.
AMI TRAINER AND CONSULTANT: RUBY LAU
Ruby Lau, an AMI Trainer and educational consultant, brings her multi-layered experience to mentor and support the training staff and the students of the course. Ruby currently works as a consultant to training courses and schools in many parts of South Asia, including India, Singapore, Malaysia, Hong Kong, and China. Ruby is a senior member of the AMI faculty in China and serves as a member of the Scientific Pedagogical Committee at AMI. She holds AMI diplomas at the 0-3, 3-6 and 6-12 age level. Educated from an early age in the UK, Ruby joined the Maria Montessori Training Organisation in London in 1986, and worked both in the school and the training course. She started Little Acorns, a Montessori school that she ran for 15 years, while continuing to work on the course. Ruby began her career in advertising. She served as Chairman of the Montessori Society AMI UK, which promotes an awareness of Montessori education to a wider public.
AMI TRAINER AND CONSULTANT: RUKMINI RAMACHANDRAN
Rukmini Ramachandran, leads the training team at the Navadisha Montessori Foundation. Rukmini holds an AMI Montessori Elementary diploma at the 6-12 age level and AMI Montessori Assistants to Infancy diploma at the 0-3 level. She entered the field of Montessori education in 1991 when she received her AMI Primary Diploma at the 3-6 age level in Mumbai. She has a Masters in English. She came into Montessori education with a background in journalism, having started her career as Assistant Editor of a children’s monthly. She edited the 1939 Montessori lectures in Chennai into a book titled Creative Development in the Child in two volumes. Her most particular interest lies in publishing for children. She currently serves as the Managing Trustee of the Indian Montessori Foundation.
BOOKS AND STATIONERY BUDGET
It is advisable for students to acquire the Montessori books in the Required Reading list. The students will also have to acquire stationery for the course, for course submissions and the creation of Albums. Students using computers must budget additionally for printing cost, particularly colour printing. The cost will vary depending on the choices made. We would like to emphasise that this is a budget and that it is only an approximate guide. The training course neither recommends nor endorses particular stationery products. Students are advised to budget for books and materials for the duration of the course as follows.
| Items | Budget | Likely to be spent |
| Montessori Books | Rs.3000 | Before the course commences |
| Stationery | Rs.3000 | For the duration of the course |
| Materials | Rs.3000 | For the duration of the course |
| Printing | Rs.3500 | For the duration of the course |
BOOKS AND READING
To prepare for the Diploma course and for working in a Montessori environment it is good practice to read around the subject. The following list of books is provided to help you begin this process.
REQUIRED READING
- Montessori, Maria THE ABSORBENT MINDMontessori-Pierson Publishing Company
•Montessori,Maria THE DISCOVERY OF THE CHILDMontessori-Pierson Publishing Company
• Montessori, Maria THE FORMATION OF MAN Indian Montessori Foundation
• Montessori, Maria EDUCATION FOR NEW WORLD Indian Montessori Foundation
• Montessori, Maria THE CHILD IN THE FAMILY Indian Montessori Foundation
• Montessori, Maria EDUCATION AND PEACE Montessori-Pierson Publishing Company
• Montessori, Maria FROM CHILDHOOD TO ADOLESCENCE Indian Montessori Foundation
• Montessori, Maria THE SECRET OF CHILDHOOD Orient Blackswan, Chennai - Montessori, Maria TO EDUCATE THE HUMAN POTENTIALIndian Montessori Foundation
• Montessori, Maria WHAT YOU SHOULD KNOW ABOUT YOUR CHILDIndian Montessori Foundation
• Montessori, Mario Jr., EDUCATION FOR HUMAN DEVELOPMENT Montessori-Pierson Publishing Company
- Montessori, Maria AGE OF MIRACLES Indian Montessori Foundation
- Citizen of the World: Key Montessori Readings – Montessori- Pierson Publishing Company