The State-level general body of the Early Childhood Care and Education (ECCE) scheme decided to start pre-nursery classes in 2569 anganwadi centres in 8 districts of the State from July as a pilot project for overall care and education of children. The decision was taken in a meeting chaired by Woman and Child Development Minister Maya Singh here on Monday.
Principal Secretary Women and Child Development JN Kansotiya and Commissioner Integrated Child Development Service Pushplata Singh were also present. Singh said that ECCE’s role is vital in integrated development of children. We face 2 challenges. First challenge is to ensure that children of Anganwadis get all services effectively and second that planned efforts should be made to bring absent children to Anganwadis.
She said that for this it is necessary that anganwadis are made attractive for children. She said that members of the general council should minutely study syllabus prepared for preliminary education of children and give suggestions to make it more useful. Under ECCE, syllabus has been prepared keeping in view children’s development, psychology and principles of child education. Under the syllabus, directives on 19 subjects have been chalked out for Anganwadi workers. Separate workbooks have been prepared for children of 3 to 4, 4 to 5 and 5 to 6 years of age.
For this, ECCE experts have also imparted training to Integrated Chief Development Officers and supervisors at NIPCCD, New Delhi. In all, 2569 anganwadis of these 8 districts have been selected where pre-nursery education will be imparted to 89 thousand 263 children. The pilot project will get underway from July. On yielding encouraging results, it will be implemented in 10 thousand Anganwadi centres also.