New Education Policy-2020 Implemented in Uttarakhand | 13 Jul 2022

Why in News?

  • On July 12, 2022, Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami implemented the New Education Policy-2020 in Uttarakhand by launching 'Bal Vatika' (Class Before Primary) in the Directorate of Education. The government claims that Uttarakhand has become the first state in the country to do so.

Key Points

  • 'Bal Vatika' classes were started in Anganwadi centers and schools of all the development blocks of the state. Nursery education in private schools, now children studying in Anganwadi and government schools will be conducted in 'Bal Vatika' class.
  • More than 20 thousand Anganwadi centers are being run in the state. In the first phase, under the new National Education Policy, operation of Bal Vatika classes will start in five thousand Anganwadi centers operating in government primary schools under the Education Department.
  • Children in 'Bal Vatika' classes at Anganwadi centres will be taught under the new National Education Policy. The course for this has been prepared. The State Council of Educational Research and Training (SCERT) has prepared hand sheets for Anganwadi workers and teachers and three practice booklets (Health, Dialogue and Creation) for children in the course.
  • On this occasion, the Chief Minister inaugurated the Directorate of Elementary Education building and laid the foundation stone of SCERT building. He released a book and a career card for the development of entrepreneurship among children, as well as announced the repair of dilapidated Anganwadi centers in the area.
  • Education Minister Dr. Dhan Singh Rawat said that there are 4,447 Anganwadi centres operating in the primary school premises of the state. In these centres, the students will be prepared for class one by starting classes from pre-primary. The pre-primary has been named 'Bal Vatika' by the education department. A separate course has been prepared for this by the department.
  • In Uttarakhand, 20,067 Anganwadi centres have been sanctioned. Out of this, 20 thousand 17 Anganwadi centres are being operated. There are 14,555 Anganwadi workers deployed in these centres. Apart from this, 14,249 helpers and 4,941 Mini-Anganwadi workers are working in Anganwadi centres.