Vidhya Kunj Gujarati School Ottawa currently has over 50 students, attending classes that cover curriculum study from beginners to Advanced level. As first and second generation Gujarati Canadians we agree that retaining the language is of prime importance as is retaining the rich heritage that defines us as Gujarati. While reading and writing is vital to establishing a sound basis for any language, equally or more important is the ability to speak and understand. During the first year, students are mainly taught through oral work and are slowly eased into learning the alphabet. Sounds and vowels are then introduced in the second year of learning. This is preparation for the students so that they can pick up skills of reading and writing. This then sets a firm foundation for the vital skills needed for the Advanced level.
Staff at the Gujarati school cover the OCDSB course curriculum provided by the school board and are qualified and fully trained for the position they hold. The purpose of Vidhya Kunj is not to create Gujarati scholars but to learn the communications skills necessary to retain our language for coming generations.
Vidhya Kunj Gujarati Language School is …
- An active part of the Gujarati Community for over the last 30 years
- An organization operating under the Ottawa-Carleton Education Board
- Located at Greenbank Public School, Greenbank Road, Ottawa
At present we have over 50 students, with class sizes varying from 10–15 students. Classes run for two hours and are taught by a teacher and at least one support staff in the larger classes or classes with mixed abilities. Classes run from 9.30AM to 12.00 (includes half hour snack break) every Saturday morning during the normal school year.
Why send your child to learn Gujarati?
Educators have found:
- Children who come to school with a solid foundation in their mother tongue develop stronger literacy abilities in the school language and succeed educationally.
- Both languages nurture each other when the educational environment permits children access to both languages.
- Encouraging young children to learn their mother tongue would help them to develop confidence, self-esteem and their unique identity within a multicultural society.
- Bilingualism assists the child’s general intellectual and conceptual development.
- Your child will learn English/french much more effectively if they continue to develop their first language at the same time.
- To reduce the extent of language loss, parents should establish a strong home language policy and provide ample opportunities for children to expand the functions for which they use their mother tongue (e.g. reading and writing) and contexts in which they can use it.
Curriculum 
Varna Maala