Visible Impact of Negligence in Early Childhood Care and Education on Indian Pre-Schools

The fundamental objective of Early Childhood Care and Education (ECCE) is to promote comprehensive development across several domains, including physical and motor development, cognitive skills, socio-emotional and ethical growth, cultural and artistic expression, as well as early communication, language, literacy, and numeracy skills. The National Education Policy 2020 (NEP) emphasizes the importance of ensuring universal access to ECCE by 2030, with the goal of preparing all children for formal schooling by the time they enter Grade 1. For children aged 3 to 6, pre-schools play a crucial role in laying the educational foundation necessary for their advancement to Grade 1. The NEP introduces a restructured pedagogical and curricular framework to highlight the critical importance of these formative years. The policy advocates for a curriculum that is rooted in play-based, activity-based, and inquiry-based learning, aiming to foster holistic developmental outcomes. To realize this vision, NCERT has been tasked with developing a "National Curricular and Pedagogical Framework for Early Childhood Care and Education" (NCPF ECCE) for children up to the age of 8. Furthermore, the policy proposes the introduction of preparatory classes to bridge the gap between anganwadis and primary schools. It also outlines plans for training and certification programs for ECCE educators, primarily through digital platforms, with the overarching objective of achieving universal access to early childhood education.