1. India: ‘Status and Vision for ECCE’
Dr Shreeranjan,
Joint Secretary,
Ministry of Women and Child Development,
Government of India

2. India: The Context
158.8 million children in the 0-6 years age group (2011), 13.1 % of the total population
8,29,52,135 boys
7,58,37,152 girls
20 States and Union Territories have over 1 million children in the age group 0-6 years; large diversity
Burdens of Malnutrition
22% babies born with low birth weight
42.5% underweight (0-5 years)
79% children anaemic (6-35 months)

3. India’s Commitment 86th Constitutional Amendment : Art.21
The State shall endeavor to provide ECCE for all Children until they complete the age of six years
Several international conventions, summits and resolutions
Right of Children to Free and Compulsory Education Act ( Section 11) : With a view to prepare children above the age of three years for elementary education and to provide ECCE for all children until they complete the age of six years, the appropriate government may make necessary arrangement for providing free pre primary education for such children
A holistic and Integrated approach ( I C D) based on the continuum of growth, development and early learning for the child under 6 years through convergence and synergies in order to provide health, nutrition, care and early education (in local language) opportunities for holistic development of young children

4. Child care Kindergartens Balwadis Public Private NGO C S R Preschools
ECCE Provisions in India
Public
Private
NGO
C S R
Unregulated, gaps in data base, ranging from minimalist to profit oriented academically accelerated approach, untrained teachers , questionable pedagogical inputs. About 50% children outside public system
71509 SSA Centres
Child care
Kindergartens
1.3 million Anganwadis, 80 million children, 35 million for ECCE
Balwadis
Preschools

5. ICDS: World’s Largest ICD Programme
An integrated early child development programme aimed at addressing health, nutrition & development needs of young children, P&L women
Package of six services
Started in 1975 with 33 CD blocks, today world’s largest early childhood development programme
Reaching out to about 10 crore beneficiaries:
Children ( 6 months to 3 years) : 4.35 crore
Children (3 to 6 years) : 3.47 crore
P& L Women : 1.82 crore
7076 Projects
2011
706800
6779 Projects
2005
290655
5422 Projects
101864
1995
ICDS Milestones – Number of Projects & AWCs sanctioned / approved
3066 Projects
1985
4891
896 Projects
Achievement during Eleventh Five Year Plan
32.88% increase in beneficiaries for SN [from lakhs at the end of X Plan to 960 lakh during XI Plan]
18.96% increase in beneficiaries for PSE [from lakh at the end of X Plan to 347 lakh (including 180 lakh girl child) during XI Plan]
1975
33 Projects

6. Integrated Child Development Framework
ICDS encompasses growth and development of the child through
preschool non-formal education (ECE), linkages with primary schools
nutrition supplementation
immunization, health check up,
growth monitoring, home visits and parent counseling
health and nutrition education
coordination and convergence with allied departments
Bronfenbrenner, 1979

7. ECCE: Gaps and Challenges
Low awareness and clarity regarding Early Childhood Care and Development in families and society
Absence of policy, curriculum and action framework at all levels
Issue of access, diversity, standards and quality
Parental aspirations and commercialization
Weak linkages with family and community
Weak linkages of ECCD resource centres/ universities/ learning centres
Inadequate human resource: professional courses, training and personnel preparation
Inadequate attention and investment in child development
Lower harmonization of efforts; absence of comprehensive strategy, absence of allocation of roles and responsibilities
Absence of the system of regulation and comprehensive child development legislation

8. New Emerging Directions
At the National Level
Ministry of Women and Child Development, the nodal ministry for care of pre-school children including pre-primary education constituted a Core Committee for preparing the ECE Framework and policy
At the State Level
Innovative Initiatives:
Some innovative initiatives have also been undertaken by nongovernmental organizations ; development partners etc.
Initiatives to Strengthen Preschool Education in ICDS
State ECCE Policy
Chattisgarh
Curriculum/ Activity Books
Thematic Curriculum (Andhra Pradesh, Assam, Chattisgarh, Karnataka, Madhya Pradesh, Punjab, Tripura), Calendar of Activities (Bihar), Activity Books (Orissa, Punjab, Bihar, Chattisgarh, Karnataka), rhyme and song books (Assam, Tripura)
Celebration of ECCE Day
Bachpan Divas (Bihar), ECCE Day (Karnataka), Bal Sabha (Madhya Pradesh), Kanya Kelavani (Gujarat)
Child Friendly Anganwadis
AWCs based on BaLA (Building as Learning Aid) Concept (Madhya Pradesh, Karnataka)

9. New Emerging Directions: National ECCE Policy Framework
Enabling Environment
National ECCE Policy
Enabling Environment
ECCE= ICD
Quality Standards for ECCE
National ECE Curriculum Framework

10. Towards a Child Centric Environment
A Child Centered Holistic Approach
A Comprehensive Policy & Curriculum
An Integrated Multi –Sectoral Convergent Service Delivery Mechanism
Supportive Supervision
Effective & Continuous Training
Advocacy for Community and Parent Awareness
Creating Integrated systems of care and education practices with
enabling, promotive and supportive policies, legislations and affirmative actions
Feedback

11. The ECCE Policy in India
The cardinal principles informing this policy are
Universal access with equity
Quality in ECCE
Strengthening institutional capacity

12. Access with Equity Universalise the provision of ECCE for all children
Decentralized and contextualised approach
ICDS Anganwadi Centre (AWC) repositioned as a “vibrant child friendly ECD Centre”
Conversion of AWCs into AWCs cum crèches with a planned early stimulation component
Partnerships across public, private and voluntary sectors
Convergence with related care schemes, SSA and other schemes
Young children with different abilities would also be reached.

13. Quality in ECCE
Quality Standards and Specifications: Essential and Desirables
Interaction (teacher/child, child/child);health, nutrition, personal care and routine; protective care and safety; infrastructure/ physical environment; organisation and management; children experiences and learning opportunities; assessment and outcome measures
National Curriculum Framework promoting play based, experiential and child friendly provision for early education and all round development
Child friendly and developmentally appropriate play and learning materials
A Regulatory Framework for ECCE to ensure basic quality inputs and outcomes, across all service providers

14. Curriculum Framework for ECE
Objectives of Preschool Education
Principles of Learning
Curriculum Content
Pedagogy: Methods
Essential Play Material
Assessment
Role of Teacher/ ECCE Educator
Role of Parent
Supportive Essentials
Language Development
Motor Development
Non Formal
Preschool Education
Physical Development
Creative and Aesthetic Appreciation
Cognitive Development
Socio- Emotional Development
Scientific Temperament

15. Strengthening ICDS Service Package
Early Childhood Care Education & Development (ECCED)
Monthly ECCE Day
Contextualized curriculum , including early stimulation package for under 3s and school readiness interventions for children 5+
Joyful learning and activity based, experiential learning pedagogy
Local and culturally relevant, developmentally appropriate play and learning material
Child assessment
Additional Anganwadi worker: Trained HR support
Child Development, Care & Nutrition Counselling
Infant & Young Child Feeding (IYCF) Promotion &Counselling
Joint Mother and Child Protection Card
Maternal Care Counselling
Care, Nutrition, Health & Hygiene Education
Community based Management of underweight children

16. Strengthening ICDS Service Package
Health Services
Immunization
Regular Fixed Monthly VHNDs
Immunization sessions
ANC / PNC support
Care & treatment of severely underweight through NRCs
Referral services to pre-identified referral network
Support for IMNCI / JSY & JSSK / RCH / NRHM
Health Education
Community Mobilization, Advocacy & IEC
Interpersonal Communication
Information dissemination & awareness generation
Appropriate food demonstration
Voluntary Action Groups
Village contact drives

17. Thank You!!!