Brief

India is steadfast in its commitment to offer every child equal access to quality learning opportunities. The Ministry of Women & Child Development also recognizes the pivotal role of early years in development and seeks to strengthen India's Early Childhood Development Care & Education (ECDCE) landscape. Guided by the National Education Policy 2020 and National Curriculum Framework for Foundational Stage 2022, the "Poshan Bhi Padhai Bhi" initiative was launched On May 10th, 2023, under the Saksham Anganwadi and Mission Poshan 2.0 umbrella to enhance early learning through the Anganwadi system, for children from birth to 6 years.

To empower the dedicated Anganwadi workers and ensure optimal learning for all children, the Ministry of Women and Child Development has launched the “Navchetna- National Framework for Early Childhood Stimulation for Children from Birth to Three Years, 2024” and “Aadharshila- National Curriculum for Early Childhood Care and Education for Children from Three to Six Years 2024”.

Navchetana aims to help children from birth to three years develop holistically, based on the principles of serve and return, caregivers’ three acts: love, talk, play, and positive guidance. Special focus has been given for the screening, inclusion and referrals of Divyang children. The Framework provides a stepping stone for children for their long term development, aiming to ensure that all children start their learning journeys on an equal footing. It aims to empower Anganwadi functionaries with greater knowledge and capabilities for early childhood stimulation.

Aadharshila is driven by the pressing need for a contextual curriculum that specifically offers Anganwadi educators a guide grounded in Indian and international ECDCE research. It aims to improve the quality of early childhood education transacted at the Anganwadi Centre, by prioritising competency-based lesson plans and almost 150 activities, covering all learning domains. Special focus has been given for the screening, inclusion and referrals of Divyang children in every activity.

A two-tier training model is being implemented through the Savitribai Phule National Institute of Women and Child Development (SPNIWCD), with 3 days of training for Anganwadi workers covering curriculum, pedagogy, and assessment tools, emphasizing play-based, activity-based learning. Monthly ECDCE days and DIY toy workshops are also being deployed for community engagement. Capacity-building under PBPB will help facilitate implementation of Aadharshila and Navchetana at the Anganwadi Centre level.