Page 8 - ISSUES AND DIRECTIONS.pmd

Issues and Directions in ECCE

5.2.5 Curriculum

The curriculum must provide age- and- developmentally appropriate learning
experiences and opportunities to children so that they can understand themselves Notes
and the environment, think critically and solve their day-to-day problems. The
curriculum must be play- based, ensure continuous learning, provide opportunities
for interaction, ensure involvement of children and promote use of indigenous
material; and offer pedagogy covering all domains of development. It should
also respect the uniqueness, diversity of experiences and local-specific contexts
of children. In the curriculum, the emphasis must be given on concrete
experiences through interaction with and exploration of the environment, both
physical and socio-cultural.

5.2.6 Inclusion and Gender Equality

Diversity in the classroom must be respected to promote equality. Efforts should
be made to facilitate education of children with special needs. The preschool
environment should be made accessible in terms of infrastructure and provision
of required teaching learning material. Early diagnosis of any developmental
delay in children is essential. Hence, the preschool administration may carry
out the early developmental screening of all children so that timely intervention
may be provided.

Preschool can also be a better place to break the gender stereotypes by providing
inclusive and gender sensitive curriculum. Teachers should demonstrate equal
and appropriate expectations from boys and girls. They should give equal
attention and respect to them, and also promote equal opportunities. Play and
other activities should be free of gender bias.

5.2.7 Administrative/ Management

a. Monitoring and supervision
Monitoring and supervision must focus on finding out the issues concerning
ECCE and devising solutions to the identified problems. With the help of a
strong monitoring mechanism, the aim of early childhood education can be
realized to an extent. Here, the role of the head of the centre, supervisors and
the School Management Committee (SMC) is crucial especially, where the
ECCE centre is attached to the formal school. Thus, a robust system of
monitoring and supervision must be developed and implemented at the national
and state level to bring changes at the grassroot level.

b. Regulation
Regulation is one of the important ways to ensure the quality of ECCE centres.

EARLY CHILDHOOD CARE AND EDUCATION 71