A two-day long national conference on mother tongue based multilingual early childhood education and care (MTMECE) organized by Bernard van leer Foundation (BvlF) with its partners in Odisha PREM, DISHA, KISS, SPREAD, CECED and ICF International and supported by the State Women and Child Development (WCD) Department, concluded here at Gopalpur with a valedictory session.
WCD Commissioner-cum-Secretary Vishal Dev, Director Ravindra Pratap Singh and senior country representative, BvlF Dharitri Patnaik were present.
Vishal Dev in his address stated that early childhood education is of utmost importance and highlighted the need for greater and constructive dialogues from all stakeholders. He made a case for greater role of technology as an enabler for addressing some of the bottlenecks. Dev also expressed his commitment to increase manpower in Anganwadi centers in the State.
Patnaik made a case for bridging the efficiency and capacity gap and reiterated the support of BvlF to the activities of the Government and civil society in this regard.
Earlier during the day, an interactive workshop was organized where DSWO, CDPOs as well as representatives from civil society, academia and industry deliberated on various challenges faced by the MTMECE programmes in the State.