Context

The Ministry of Women and Child Development (MWCD) has released the National Curriculum for Early Childhood Care and Education 2024 titled ‘Aadharshila’.

Centre Releases Curriculum Framework for 3 to 6-Year-Olds

• India has 14 lakh anganwadis spread across villages, serving as key centers for health and nutrition support for pregnant mothers and children.
• The Ministry of Women and Child Development (MWCD), in collaboration with the Ministry of Education, aims to transform these anganwadis into preschools.
• They envision anganwadis to provide both  health services and basic education to children.
  • This shift aims to strengthen children’s foundational literacy and numeracy skills from an early age.

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About Aadharshila

• Aadharshila curriculum is released by the Ministry of Women and Child Development (MWCD).
• This curriculum aligns with the National Education Policy 2020 and the National Curriculum Framework.
• Objective: It aims to boost basic reading and math skills for three to six-year-old children in anganwadis.
• It is a detailed 48-week curriculum of learning over three years.
• The framework covers various domains, including cognitive, physical, social, and emotional development.

Curriculum Framework Development By:

• The framework is crafted by an internal committee representing various government departments, educational institutions, and civil society organizations.

Key Components of Aadharshila

• Weekly Play Calendar: A Structured Approach

  • Four Weeks: The curriculum includes a weekly plan for play activities, starting with four weeks focused on academic activities to help children transition from home to the anganwadi center.
  • 36 Weeks: The next 36 weeks prioritize exploration and free play, along with conversations, creative activities like storytelling and art, and reflecting on experiences.
    • Storytelling themes cover important lessons like conflict resolution, responsibility, and cooperation.

• Learning Content: 

  • Children learn about colors, shapes, numbers, senses, body parts, family dynamics, and social interactions.
  • They practice listening, following instructions, basic counting, and recognizing sounds.
  • Themes also include seasonal changes, festivals, and food.

• Recap and Reinforcement: 

  • Revision of  previous lesson: The final eight weeks focus on revisiting previous lessons through worksheets and observing children’s progress.
  • Tailored age group Activities:  Activities and schedules are tailored to different age groups, with detailed instructions, materials lists, and goals to guide teachers.

• Promoting Development: Building Essential Skills:

  • The curriculum aids in developing listening skills, vocabulary, imagination, storytelling, following directions, creativity, and social skills.
  • It nurtures self-expression and self-esteem, laying a strong foundation for transitioning to Grade 1.

National Framework for Preschool Education: Empowering States

• Supporting State Solutions:

  • The national framework for children aged three to six will guide states in creating their own suitable curriculums.
  • This approach addresses later school challenges by offering tailored solutions.

• Importance of Structured Guidance:

  • Before, states without a curriculum treated preschool as an extension of primary education, mainly focused on reading and writing.

• • It provides specific guidance on activities and organization to ensure effective preschool learning.

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• Integration with Training Programs:

  • The ‘Poshan Bhi, Padhai Bhi’ scheme initiated training for anganwadi workers in early childhood education last year.
  • Now, this curriculum will be integrated into ongoing training sessions, helping anganwadi workers transition into preschool instructors.
    • Currently, 6,758 state-level master trainers from 329 districts across 32 states have undergone training under the ‘Poshan Bhi, Padhai Bhi’ program.

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