NEW DELHI: Government has proposed standards for playschools that include the size of the classroom and outdoor space, mandatory use of mother tongue or vernacular language as medium of instruction and student-caregiver ratio. These conditions are part of the 'early childhood care and education' (ECCE) formulated by the women and child develop
ment (WCD) ministry and slated to be discussed in the Union Cabinet on Friday.
Among the "base standards" that are "non-negotiable" include an ECCE programme for three-four hours, one classroom for a group of 30 children measuring at least 35 square meters and with the availability of a minimum outdoor space of 30 square meters, separate space for cooking nutritionally balanced meals and nap time for children, caregiver and student ratio of 1:20 for children between three and six years and 1:10 for kids under three years. The norms also specify that the primary medium of instruction will be mother tongue or local language.
Other conditions include age and developmentally appropriate and child-centric curriculum, first aid services, adequate and safe drinking water, separate child-friendly toilets. Playschools will be monitored by the National ECCE Council that is expected to be set up within three months of the policy being ratified. The policy also mandates that the Council create a regulatory framework within a year and state councils within 18 months.
India has 158.7 million children between 0-6 years. The WCD ministry reaches out to 80 million children through its ICDS programme and provides care and education for kids of working mothers through 23,785 creches.
The WCD ministry plans to advice all state governments to notify ECCE as a subject. The ministry is also likely a legislation that will "promote integrated and comprehensive child development detailing age appropriate interventions to address various facets of care, education, survival, protection and development of all children under 6 of age assuring the right of the child in early childhood to integrated child development," the draft policy said.
ment (WCD) ministry and slated to be discussed in the Union Cabinet on Friday.
Among the "base standards" that are "non-negotiable" include an ECCE programme for three-four hours, one classroom for a group of 30 children measuring at least 35 square meters and with the availability of a minimum outdoor space of 30 square meters, separate space for cooking nutritionally balanced meals and nap time for children, caregiver and student ratio of 1:20 for children between three and six years and 1:10 for kids under three years. The norms also specify that the primary medium of instruction will be mother tongue or local language.
Other conditions include age and developmentally appropriate and child-centric curriculum, first aid services, adequate and safe drinking water, separate child-friendly toilets. Playschools will be monitored by the National ECCE Council that is expected to be set up within three months of the policy being ratified. The policy also mandates that the Council create a regulatory framework within a year and state councils within 18 months.
India has 158.7 million children between 0-6 years. The WCD ministry reaches out to 80 million children through its ICDS programme and provides care and education for kids of working mothers through 23,785 creches.
The WCD ministry plans to advice all state governments to notify ECCE as a subject. The ministry is also likely a legislation that will "promote integrated and comprehensive child development detailing age appropriate interventions to address various facets of care, education, survival, protection and development of all children under 6 of age assuring the right of the child in early childhood to integrated child development," the draft policy said.
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