Impressed with the Odisha model of mother tongue-based early childhood education to tribal children, the National Advocacy Council for the Development of Indigenous People (NACDIP), a national network of tribal groups and voluntary organisations representing 18 States, is all set to ensure implementation of the model in other parts of the country.
Now, the mother tongue-based early childhood education is being provided in 25,000 Anganwadi Centres in tribal areas in the State with a separate plan of action of the State Government.
“The Union Government recently framed a policy on National Early Childhood Care and Education (ECCE). With the new policy in place, it’s imperative for the State Governments to have plans of action of their own and ensure that tribal children encash on their right to quality early childhood education,” NACDIP national convenor Dr Jacob Thundyill said at a Press conference here on Friday.
“Non-formal preschool education is one of the core services under the Integrated Child Development Service (ICDS) scheme and the new policy will strengthen and restructure the services further,” said NACDIP southern region convenor Dr Krishnan.
Sating that Odisha is a step ahead of all States in implementing mother tongue-based education to tribal children, Badal Tah of the Odisha Adivasi Manch urged the State Government also to provide teaching and learning materials, trained teachers and infrastructure to strengthen Naba Arunima, the initiative launched to enable tribal students to have a strong foundation for further learning.