Centre releases curriculum framework for anganwadis
For the rst time, the Union government has released a curriculum advisable to be taught to children aged three to sixyears-old, thus giving an impetus to pre-school learning in 14 lakh anganwadis across the country.
The Ministry of Women and Child Development (MWCD) has released the National Curriculum for Early Childhood Care and Education 2024 titled ‘Aadharshila,’ on the lines of the National Education Policy 2020 and the National Curriculum Framework. Aadharshila (translated as foundation stone) is a detailed 48-week curriculum meant for learning in the age group of three to six-year-olds in anganwadis.
There are 14 lakh anganwadis in India which serve as nodal points in villages for the health and nutrition needs of pregnant mothers and children.
“Concern in the policy is that children are going up school ladder without learning to read and write [which may lead them to lack in achieving age-appropriate learning levels like math and language skills],” said Professor Venita Kaul, former NCERT ofcial and member of the internal committee that designed the curriculum.
Prof. Kaul said longitudinal research which followed 42,000 Indian children up to primary grades for about ve years indicated that children who have received early childhood education are expected to do much better in school and are also psychosocially better adapted than peers who did not receive any formal education before six years of age.
The curriculum includes a weekly play calendar with four weeks of initiation that include academic activities. The next 36 weeks are spent exploring, free play, conversation, creation and appreciation, and re¨ection that involves various activities, including storytelling, singing rhymes, arts and crafts.
The last eight weeks are spent in reinforcing learnings of previous weeks and observation of kids’ performance. Activities and timetable are segregated age-wise, and observing children’s interests.
The curriculum helps in developing listening skills, vocabulary building, boosting imagination, following instructions, social development, developing self-esteem, which will help a child to easily transition into Grade 1.
The curriculum helps to develop skills which will help a child easily transition into Grade 1