Idara-e-Taleem-o-Aagahi Center for education and consciousness Making the most of learning and teaching.. A Holistic Social Experience

What is Early Childhood Education? “Learning undertaken by young children in the home, in nursery schools, preschools, and in kindergartens”

Why Early Childhood Education? The early years are recognized as a vital stage in children’s physical, linguistic, intellectual and emotional development. ECE refers not only to what is happening within the child, but also to the care that child requires in order to thrive.

Why Early Childhood Education in Government Schools? Idara-e-Taleem-o-Aagahi launched its school improvement program in run down Government School in 2000 the work coincided with the launch of the education sector reform and public private partnership initiatives. “ECE is an incentive program for improving access and retention, addressing well-being of the very young at the household and school levels” It is ITA’s firm belief that to achieve sustainable and quality universal primary education there must be investment in the very young through ECE.

ITA’s Program Regenerating schools regenerating communities: Being committed to EFA goals and the effectiveness of early childhood education, ITA explored with the Dept. of Education City Dist Govt Lahore to set up ECE in its partner government\EXMCL schools catering for 3 years+ a class even katchi. A program for early childhood education naturally helped ITA to link the school with the local community, trigger classroom improvement in the primary section and change attitude of teachers and parents with marked results in practices and impact.

Direct interventions for Early Childhood Education program No of Schools: DistrictNo of schoolsNo of children Lahore9595 Sheikhupura2150 Total11745 No. of Schools where ECE material is being used other than Lahore/Sheikhupura: District No of schoolsNo of children Islamabad5250 Chiniot11700 Nankana3150 Total1100

Learning materials: TRC Taleemi Basta Alif Laila Qaida Kit and CD on Alif Bay Pay Big Books (Punjab Middle Schooling project) CDs on ECE Scheme of work from the Sindh Education Foundation(SEF) Building blocks of Alphabets, counting &Alif Bay Pay Pocket board with learning aides Soft boards Washing lines Material in Goshas or learning corners language (Urdu,English),Math,,Science,Library,art and health on rotational basis.

Curriculum in use: National curriculum on early childhood education & guidelines Punjab Text Book Board Supplementary materials TRC materials Pehla Taleemi Basta & Alif Laila Quaida Kit

Material Used!

Capacity building of teacher in following areas : 8 day training workshop based on following areas Concepts of early childhood education Classroom management especially for early childhood classes Teaching strategies for early years Preparation and Use of teaching aids (playdough,pocket board. jigsaw puzzles) Time tabling Assessment of ECE child Mentoring and team teaching ITA School Improvement Network Partner school Sanjan Nagar School in Lahore is a strong shadow school for ECE support and best practice

Training Program Mentoring & team TeachingECE Training!

Timings of ECE& Daily Activities: 4 hours daily: 8:00am-12:00 pm Daily routine is important because it: Helps children understand the concepts Helps teacher to manage time TimeActivity 8:00am-8:15amDua(prayer)/national anthem 8:15am-8:30amListening and speaking time 8:30am-10:00amGroup work 10:00am-10:20amLunch time 10:20am – 11:20amGosha/learning corner/ activity Time 11:20am to 11:45pmHealth and cleanliness / Physical exercise 11:45am to 12:00pmStory / rhyme time

Images for classroom use

Methodology of the program Activity based Work in Goshas/learning corners, flash cards Pocket board Group work Health program.. Family health Nutrition program.. Mid day milk

Assessment: Portfolio of each child Assessment Performa for each child Each child admission form also a base line on the child profiling both developmental and health.

New initiatives: School to School Cross Country Links Link with Cannonbury Primary School in UK with CDG Girls Primary School Yakki Gat (walled city) Lahore. The main objective of this intervention is to make a link for school improvement & strengthening for early Foundation years.

Other Linkages Link with Alif Laila Book Bus Society Link with College of Home Economics in material development and internship program

Future plans ICT and School to School links –Sharing of teaching learning practices by both sides though online communication and teacher exchange program in Yakki gate school –Replication of these online linkages with schools Expanding and Strengthening of ECE program in Government Schools and local communities as a collaborative exercise with the NFE and Education Departments Training and Capacity Building for ECE Forming a support group for ECE at the district level and becoming engaged with ECE network at national level ITA is a willing partner for ECE expansion in Punjab & in Pakistan