Editorial Analysis | A Model Struggling To Deliver

Table of Contents

Significance of Early Childhood Education

Available evidence suggests that children who engage in early and play-based learning activities have better developmental outcomes than those who don’t. Research has shown that children who regularly participate in a preschool programme perform better than children who do not.

Editorial Analysis For UPSC IAS Current Affairs Preparation

The recent National Education Policy (NEP), 2020, envisions universalising Early Childhood Care and Education through Anganwadi Centres (AWCs).
- Anganwadi Centres fall under the Integrated Child Development Services (ICDS) Scheme which offers six services with preschool education being one of them.

Editorial Analysis For UPSC IAS Current Affairs Preparation

The anganwadis lack adequate and quality infrastructure primarily owing to low public investment. The absence of adequate space and the lack of play-based learning materials remain major hindrances in imparting quality learning experiences for the children.
Anganwadi workers are underpaid and overburdened. Also, they lack the capacity to deliver quality teaching to the children.
This results in inadequate inputs for the holistic development of young children. As a result, children’s early learning outcomes were nowhere close to the expected levels.

Editorial Analysis For UPSC IAS Current Affairs Preparation

The potential of Anganwadis remains enormous and to realize this potential we need to fill the infrastructural and human resource gaps.
The funds for anganwadis should be increased to ensure adequate infrastructure. Also, the honorarium of Anganwadi workers should be adequately increased. There is also the need to build capacity and invest in research and development of a meaningful early childhood education curriculum.

Editorial Analysis For UPSC IAS Current Affairs Preparation