Key Points
In a significant move to promote early childhood education and care, the Centre is all set to launch the National Curriculum for Early Childhood Care and Education (ECCE) for children from three to six years old as well as a National Framework for Early Childhood Stimulation for children from birth to three years.E)..
The Ministry of Women and Child Development notified on Monday that it is launching a National Curriculum for ECCE and a National Framework for Early Childhood Stimulation recognizing the pivotal role of early years in development and thereby seeking to strengthen India's Early Childhood Care and Education landscape..
Likewise, Dr Sangeeta Goswami, a former research scholar of Gauhati University and a retired teacher of eminence, spoke to Hindustan Times and said, The significance of both the National Curriculum for ECCE and National Framework for Early Childhood Stimulation lies in the fact that they underline an area of crucial import concerning child development and care, and unfolds the underlying meaning and purpose of the adage, Charity begins at home..
It deals with children between the ages of 3 and 8 and focuses on playful joy-based learning.According to the Ministry, the Curriculum is structured to provide a weekly calendar comprising 36 weeks of active learning, 8 weeks of reinforcement and 4 weeks of initiation, together with 5+1 days of play-based learning in one week, and three blocks of activities in one day.It has been designed to improve the quality of ECCE in Anganwadi centres by prioritizing competency-based lesson plans and activities, presented in a simple and user-friendly manner.The.
Ministry states that the Framework seeks to empower caregivers and Anganwadi workers through responsive caregiving and providing opportunities for early learning for children from birth up to the age of three.The objective is to give the workers a basic understanding of how children grow and develop, the importance of brain development, and the need for nurturing care.The Framework also provides 36 month-wise age-based activities that can be conducted both within the home and at Anganwadi centres or creches, while maintaining the National Curriculum for ECCEs focus on Divyang children..
