The rules had been collectively unveiled by Training Minister Dharmendra Pradhan and Girls and Little one Improvement (WCD) Minister Annapurna Devi.
Officers stated that whereas almost 2.9 lakh of India's 14 lakh AWCs are already positioned on faculty premises, there was no normal mechanism to make sure coordination.
“These pointers have been ready to create a correct system in order that states and Union Territories can undertake uniform practices,” a senior WCD ministry official stated.
The framework specifies two fashions: bodily co-location of AWCs inside faculties with enough area and amenities, or mapping of AWCs to close by faculties the place direct co-location just isn't attainable.
It additionally lays down norms reminiscent of separate entry and exit gates for young children, devoted kitchens for mid-day meals, indoor and out of doors play areas, and child-friendly bogs. To foster convergence, the rules mandate month-to-month coordination conferences between Anganwadi staff and college academics, joint occasions like ECCE Days, ‘Praveshotsav' and parent-teacher conferences, and unified exercise calendars. Additionally they suggest reconciliation of kid knowledge to keep away from duplication of providers and smoothen the transition to Grade 1.
The curriculum for pre-school youngsters is to be aligned with the Nationwide Curriculum Framework for Foundational Stage (NCF-FS) 2022, whereas instruments like ‘Jaadui Pitara' and ‘Aadharshila' Curriculum have been instructed to advertise play-based, activity-driven studying.
States have additionally been suggested to prioritise co-location of AWCs that lack buildings or serve youngsters from weaker sections, tribal areas, and migrant households.
One other senior official underlined the significance of making certain that youngsters enter class 1 on the proper age.
“Our try is to align the Gross Enrolment Ratio and the Internet Enrolment Ratio in order that youngsters of the suitable age are in the fitting class. Irrespective of whether or not a toddler spends three years in an Anganwadi or in a pre-primary elsewhere, when he enters class 1, his studying degree ought to match his age,” she stated.
Stressing the necessity for strong monitoring, the official stated databases reminiscent of Poshan Tracker and UDISE+ needs to be interoperable to watch each baby, whereas the Automated Everlasting Educational Account Registry (APAAR ID) might ultimately be prolonged to cowl youngsters from the age of three.
“We're in discussions with UIDAI so {that a} distinctive quantity given at beginning will help monitor a toddler all through their training journey,” the official added.
On language and pedagogy, the official famous that the Nationwide Training Coverage (NEP) stresses instructing within the kid's mom tongue.
“We are attempting to make sure youngsters obtain foundational training within the language they converse at residence. Alongside, we're mapping each play and exercise to particular competencies, which states can adapt in their very own manner,” she stated.
The official emphasised that whereas issuing pointers is the straightforward half, efficient implementation would be the actual problem.
“We have already got 2.9 lakh co-located Anganwadis, and lots of extra will be built-in with the 9 lakh-plus faculties which have class 1. The place co-location just isn't attainable, centres might be mapped with close by faculties to forestall dropouts throughout the transition. With joint effort, we are able to make this work,” she stated.
The officers stated the transfer additionally responds to challenges flagged in subject research, the place AWCs operating in verandas or momentary sheds usually lacked electrical energy, water, and play areas.
The brand new system will optimise sources, scale back dropouts, and enhance studying outcomes, they added. PTI