New Delhi: On Monday, the Ministry of Women and Child Development announced that it will introduce a national curriculum for the early childhood education and care of children aged three to six. The launch schedule has not yet been disclosed. The ministry also announced the launch of a nationwide framework for early childhood stimulation for kids under three.
The action is in accordance with the National Education Policy 2020, which acknowledges the critical role that early life plays in determining a child’s future.
Given that eighty-five percent of brain development happens before the age of six, the ministry stated that it intends to work in tandem to strengthen India’s early childhood care and education system.
With the help of programmes like Palna and Pradhan Mantri Matru Vandana Yojana (PMMVY) and Mission Saksham Anganwadi, as well as Poshan 2.0, the ministry hopes to offer mothers and kids under six years old comprehensive childcare support. This entails providing a safe atmosphere, dietary assistance, and all-encompassing development initiatives.
All areas of development are addressed by the National Curriculum for Early Childhood Care and Education (ECCE) 2024, which promotes competency-based learning through enjoyable, joyful activities.
The curriculum prepares students for primary education by aligning with the National Curriculum Framework for Foundational Stage 2022 and emphasising quality improvement.
Conversely, the National Framework for Early Childhood Stimulation 2024 seeks to equip Anganwadi workers and carers with the skills and resources needed to provide the best possible early stimulation.
With a focus on values like “love, talk, play” and “serve and return,” the framework attempts to create a nurturing atmosphere that supports a child’s holistic development.
The National Institute for Public Cooperation and Child Development (NIPCCD) created both documents, ensuring flexibility and efficacy by incorporating input from the Anganwadi workers.
The Anganwadi functionaries will be trained on the new curriculum and framework under the direction of the NIPCCD.
The initiatives are a big step towards making sure that every Anganwadi centre in the country develops into a thriving learning centre that supports children’s overall development.
