In a bid to strengthen the pillars of education in rural Uttar Pradesh, the state administration has decided to develop around 1,70,896 Anganwadi centres as nodal points for the Early Childhood Children Education scheme. These schools will be equipped with booklets and preschool kits to streamline resources for young students.
The step will culture a feasible environment for school education among the rural population through a structured approach. Reportedly, the centres will also provide assessment cards for children to further this.
Promoting an upgraded, uniform education system in UP
Under the umbrella of the New Education Policy 2020, the state of Uttar Pradesh has already distributed pre-school kits to children at about 1,06,128 Anganwadi centres, across 44 districts in the state. As per reports, the National Book Trust has been roped in to progress the agenda and provide storybooks for 3-6-year-old children, according to their age. The trust is also engaged in regular field visits to the centres to promote activity-based (application) learning.
Besides them, the Integrated Child Development Services (ICDS) has also been inducted into the scheme to prepare an ECCE manual for the Angadwadi workers. Known as ‘Pahal’, this document guides the officials at the centres to ensure an orderly implementation of the ECCE activities, as per the state’s vision.
‘Pahal’ has been inked as per the syllabus developed by the State Council of Educational Research and Training (SCERT) and has been distributed in all 44 districts. This will facilitate a uniform education system in each empanelled centre. Additionally, category-wise individual assessment cards for half-yearly assessments for 3-6 years old children have also been relayed to the centres in these 44 districts.
Revamping the early education infrastructure
A government spokesperson informed that the Anganwadi Centre building will undergo a facelift as per the guidelines of the Government of India. This upgrade is touted to converge the departments of MGNREGA, Panchayati Raj, and Child Development and nutrition department, for the benefit of the students.
For this, the UP administration has undertaken a phase-wise refurbishment plan. So far it has targetted around 10,187 Anganwadi Centres in four years and out of this, construction of 8,820 Anganwadi centres has been completed. The construction of the remaining 1,367 buildings is underway.
