<
div id=”pcl-full-content”>For the first time in Maharashtra, an Act to govern pre-primary schools, which were not part of formal schooling until now seems to be in the offing. The office of Commissioner of Education has submitted a draft proposal to the state government.
The proposed Act aims at effectively monitoring implementation of National Education Policy (NEP) 2020, which includes children from age-group of 3 to 6 years under the foundational learning stage. This stage of formal education includes three years of pre-primary and classes 1 and 2. The State Council for Educational Research and Training (SCERT) has already readied a draft curriculum for the foundational stage and it has been made public inviting feedback from stakeholders, before final approval.
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As per the Commissioner of Education, Suraj Mandhare, the government does not have the power to implement change without the backing of legal regulation. He said, “We already have so many pre-primary schools. But since they were never part of formal education, there were no rules or regulations for them. They vary in so many ways from type, their curriculum, services offered and other functioning details. Some do really good jobs while some are just businesses. Now that pre-primary classes are brought under formal schooling in the foundation stage; an act will provide a better way to govern.”
A proposal seeking formation of an Act has been sent to the state government. “Apart from effective implementation of curriculum, the Act will also provide clarity on various other aspects as student: teacher ratio, duration of school, approvals for pre-primary schools among all. This will be like how regular schools from classes 1 and above have been regulated until now. Considering that these schools are catering to children from a really young age, they will be given a certain liberty,” said Mandhare. He declined to share more details stating that the draft cannot be made public before the government’s decision which is expected to discuss the proposal in cabinet.
As per the curriculum draft prepared by SCERT for the foundational stage, focus will be on overall development. All learning at the foundational stage is expected to take place with playful activities, flashcards, digital infotainment among all. There will be guidebooks or booklets for teachers instead of textbooks for children in the first three years. Whereas for classes 1 and 2, there will be textbooks with pictures and colours.
It has recommended that the pre-primary section schooling should not be held for more than 3 hours 10 minutes a day, and classes 1 and 2 should be no more than five hours a day. With inclusion of Early Childhood Care and Education (ECCE), which will cover anganwadis active in the state, nutrition of children will also be made part of curriculum goals.
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