New strategies unveiled to boost early childhood education nationwide

A significant meeting was held at the Ambedkar International Centre in New Delhi, chaired by Sanjay Kumar, Secretary of School Education & Literacy at the Ministry of Education. The focus of the gathering was to refine strategies for achieving the goals of Early Childhood Care & Education (ECCE) as outlined in the National Curriculum Framework-Foundational Stage (NCF-FS). This framework seeks a seamless integration of preschool and school education to facilitate a smooth educational transition for young learners.

The meeting saw participation from various stakeholders including representatives from the Ministry of Women & Child Development (MoWCD), state representatives, and officials from autonomous bodies under the Department of School Education & Literacy (DoSE&L). A key topic of discussion was the establishment of three Balvatikas, or pre-primary sections, for children aged three to six in all CBSE and Kendriya Vidyalayas that have a class I.

The group also recommended the co-location of anganwadis with primary schools in rural areas. This strategy is intended to facilitate a decentralized approach, ensuring effective preschool education and a smoother transition to Grade 1.

Suggestions also included the utilisation of Jaadui Pitara in government schools that have pre-primary classes to provide a comprehensive learning experience. It was proposed that the NCERT collaborate with state officials to evaluate existing educational toys to ensure they align with NCF-FS objectives.

The meeting proposed that the Ministries of Education and Women & Child Development work together to integrate Poshan Tracker and UDISE+ data systems to monitor the progression of students from pre-primary to class I as well. It was advised that states should outline specific parameters and utilize Requests for Proposals (RFPs) to source Jaadui Pitara materials transparently and efficiently.

There was a call for standardising the branding of educational programs such as NIPUN Bharat, Jaadui Pitara, e-Jaadui Pitara, and Vidya Pravesh across different states to boost their visibility and recognition.

The meeting concluded with discussions on the necessity of adequate training for preschool teachers and anganwadi workers to ensure they are well-equipped to deliver quality education to the youngest learners. The outcome of these discussions aims to forge a more cohesive and effective educational framework for children at the foundational stage of learning.