Proposal is in drafting stage; SCERT to develop syllabus
PANAJI
The State government is contemplating to have an academic curriculum for students studying in over 1,290 anganwadis in Goa to help them step up to the primary section smoothly.
At present, the focus of anganwadis, operating under the Department of Women and Child Development is only on midday meals and vaccination of the children while academically, they take a backseat. The academic part will be under the ambit of Directorate of Education (DoE).
According to highly placed secretariat sources, the State Council of Education Research and Training (SCERT) will develop the curriculum for these students. However, the decision is still in the drafting stage.
Sources said that this is the first time the State will be introducing a uniform academic framework for anganwadis, aligning it with the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020. “We will have to impart training to the Anganwadi workers before coming out with any curriculum framework and its implementation,” sources said.
“The only aim is to see the children of anganwadis get exposure to education at an early age. It will build their foundation of education with knowledge,” sources said adding along with anganwadis, the concept will be introduced for pre-primary schools, too.
According to NEP, early childhood education should be delivered through an expanded and strengthened system to standalone, co-located with primary schools, pre-primary schools and sections covering at least ages 5 to 6 years and standalone pre-schools.
However, the DoE has ruled out any plans to link or co-locate the anganwadis with primary sections of the nearest schools, for now. “There is no such plan for now. Anganwadis are working independently under women and child department,” Director Shailesh Zingade told The Goan.
In April, through, a circular issued to all the State governments, Secretary of Department of School Education and Literacy Sanjay Kumar has directed the States to undertake mapping of all anganwadis with nearby schools and to implement a common unique APAAR ID for the kids for life-long continuity of education and access to digital locker.
Kumar said that the Ministries of Education and Women & Child Development are committed to pursue the common goal of development of social and human capital by incorporation of ‘play-based’ ECCE through the extensive network of anganwadis including standalone ones and AWCs co-located with schools, as well as Balvatikas in schools.
According to Kumar, special emphasis should be on improving Early Childhood Care and Education (ECCE) outcomes in remote, rural and tribal areas through stronger linkages between anganwadis and primary schools.
