The Union Minister for Women and Child Development Smriti Irani’s sanction of 60 new anganwadis in Goa, including two model anganwadis in each taluka, comes as a welcome announcement and could go a long way in firming up grass-root education in the State. An addition of another 60 anganwadis to the existing fleet of 1,250-odd anganwadis and the idea of developing four anganwadis as model ones will not only give a boost but can provide access to education in the remotest of areas.
While the State is bracing up to switch to the New Education Policy, anganwadis are expected to play a crucial role in the formative years. However, adding more anganwadis is only half the job. The government must ensure that there is seamless integration with primary education and for this to happen, there is every need to upscale the education level at the anganwadis. The ambitious digital ‘e-learning’ concept floated a good two years back has failed to take off. Online education and the introduction of technology at the anganwadi level are a necessity in current times. These are needed to familiarise children with tablet-based digital learning methods at an early age.
However, the teaching methods have remained primitive. Also, there are inherent problems that have not been dealt with -- from educating resources to network connectivity. While the focus is on taking education deep into rural Goa, the government has to focus on adding value to the resource and education.
Secondly, a sense of insecurity has been prevailing in the workforce. Unfortunately, anganwadi workers are periodically coming onto the streets fighting for regularisation, salaries, pensions and other benefits. It paints a very poor picture when some are sacked or are protesting against their termination. It may be noted that seven workers are currently undergoing a chain hunger strike which is into its third week.
Anganwadi workers are envisaged as honorary workers assigned with administrative responsibilities thereby taking the focus away from their core role of teaching. The goal of NEP is to ensure universal access to high-quality 'Early Childhood Care and Education' through anganwadis where the intended focus is on improving the foundational learning of children. This objective has largely failed because States like Goa have focussed on adding anganwadis but have not considered the issues that are faced.
The government must understand the crucial role that anganwadis will play as the State goes into NEP mode. The first layer of foundation will determine the quality of the end product. The NEP has noted that proper care, nutrition, physical activity, psycho-social environment, and cognitive and emotional stimulation are very critical during the first six years of a child.
The need of the hour is to revisit the anganwadis, upgrade them to keep up pace with technology and introduction to digital learning, train resources and give the workers their due to bring in a sense of security and enthusiasm.
