Workshop on 'Early Childhood Care and Education in India'

• 24 Mar 2023

Why in News?

On 23 March 2023, Rajasthan's Education Minister Zahida Khan inaugurated a two-day workshop on “Convergence and Management of Governance for Universalization and Quality Early Childhood Care and Education in India” by National Institute of Educational Planning and Administration (NIEPA) in Jaipur.

Key Points

• Representatives from 16 states are participating in the workshop.
• Education Minister Zahida Khan told that many innovations are being done in Rajasthan with special focus on 'Early Childhood Care and Education' (ECCE), which is exemplary for other states of the country. . Rajasthan's innovations like integration of Anganwadi centres into schools have been included in the National Education Policy-2020.
• He informed that 'School Readiness Programme' has been implemented in more than 68 thousand schools of Rajasthan. At present, about 62 thousand Anganwadi centres are being operated in the state under the Integrated Child Development Scheme (ICDS), out of which more than 42 thousand Anganwadi centres will be linked with the education department, focusing on early childhood care and education.
• The optimal development of children in the age group of 1 to 6 years is considered to be the most critical in childhood. The state government is working vigorously in this direction by identifying the important components of ECCE according to the need of the hour.
• Commissioner of Rajasthan School Education Council and State Project Director Dr. Mohanlal Yadav said that in order to eliminate unnecessary mental pressure on children in Anganwadi centres, school and at home, an initiative has been taken to reduce the syllabus by condensing the textbooks of this level and to implement innovation like 'No Bag Day' on Saturdays in Rajasthan.
• By incorporating Anganwadi centres in schools in the state, 'Child Friendly Furniture' has been made available in more than 37 thousand Anganwadi centres and materials for outdoor games for children in more than 34 thousand Anganwadi centres so far. Rajasthan ranks first in the country in programs like National Achievement Survey, Performance Grading Index and Khelo India.
• NIEPA Professor Dr. Rashmita Das told about ECCE that the responsibility of education of children in the age group of 3 to 6 years in the country has been borne by the government, which earlier had the monopoly of the private sector; civil society is also contributing to this.
• A framework is being established for uniform pre-primary education across the country, which can be implemented in all states and union territories.