CANSHALA - SCHOOL FOR CHILDREN WITH CANCER

CanKids Canshala, the first of its kind in India, is based on a 'school in the hospital' concept, and was started in November 2012, serving children with cancer coming to Tata Memorial Hospital, Bai Jerbai Wadia Hospital for Children, Lokmanya Tilak Municipal General Hospital and other Cancer Centers in Mumbai. It is a public-private partnership between local State Government and CanKids. 

This exciting adaptation of the ‘School in the Hospital’ concept, combines the school service in a cancer hospital and local schooling adapted to the child’s cancer treatment.

“School in the Hospital” aims to ensure -
  • That a child is registered at a local school, 'Canshala'
  • Base line testing & educational and social evaluation is done
  • An Individualized Education Program (IEP) is developed 
  • The child attends the school when able. Learning is appropriate to health and attendance is not compulsory 
  • Learning is through non-formal approaches with a focus on drama/art/music/therapy, skills building, self-esteem, vocabulary, life-skills, and the basic ‘3Rs’
  • If the child is older and able to cope with the rigor of regular learning, tutorial schooling is provided 
  • Creative adjustments are made for handling the workload, especially to cater to side effects, late side-effects and learning difficulties resulting from treatment
  • “Homebound schooling” is provided to the largest extent possible when the child is too sick to attend school.  This may be provided in the ward.  
  • The local school/school in the hospital keeps the child’s home school apprised of the child’s treatment and educational progress
CanKids Canshala 

  • The school is an integral part of the Jagannath Bhatankar Municipal School Parel, Mumbai 
  • It is housed in four rooms – which include two class rooms, one health and therapy room, and one Principal’s/staff room and Computer Center (and CanKids’ Regional office), and shares the playground, auditorium and other facilities of the school
  • CanKids has also begun a school bus service to pick up children from various hospitals and dharamshalas and bring them to school and later drop them back
  • An outcomes based curriculum is in place, with children placed in Class 1 to 7, with all the younger children in one classroom and older children in another
  • A regular timetable is followed from 10.30am to 2.30pm with prayer, breakfast, lunch, health and hygiene checkup, two learning sessions and one activity session