Question : National ECCE Policy

(a) the aims and salient features of National Early Childhood Care and Education (ECCE) policy;
(b) whether the Government has provided funds for implementing the policy and if so, the details thereof indicating the funds allocated/released and utilised and number of children covered/benefited thereunder during each of the last three years and the current year, State/UT-wise;
(c) the performance of the States/UTs in implementing the policy and the achievements made during the period, State/UT-wise;
(d) whether all the States/UTs have prepared a syllabus and activity bank under the policy and if so, the compliance status thereof, State/UT-wise;
(e) whether the aims of the scheme have since been achieved and if so, the details thereof; and
(f) whether the Government proposes to review the policy and if so, the details thereof along with the further measures taken for its effective implementation and to achieve holistic development and active learning capacity of children thereunder?

MINISTER OF WOMEN AND CHILD DEVELOPMENT
(SHRIMATI MANEKA SANJAY GANDHI)

(a) The aim of the National Early Childhood Care and Education (ECCE) policy is to achieve holistic development and active learning capacity of all children below 6 years of age by promoting free, universal, inclusive, equitable, joyful and contextualised opportunities for laying foundation and attaining full potential. The salient features/ key areas of the Policy are as below:

i. Access with equity and inclusion in programmes and interventions across service providers;
ii. Improving quality, Strengthening Capacity, Monitoring and Supervision
iii. Research and Documentation
iv. Advocacy and awareness generation
v. Convergence and Coordination among policies and programmes
vi. Institutional and Implementation Arrangements
vii. Partnerships, Periodic Review and Increased investment towards ECCE

(b) The Government provides funds under ICDS Scheme for implementation of ECCE as per the approved cost sharing between Centre and States/UTs. State/UT-wise details of number of children covered/benefited and funds expended during last three years and funds released during current year are at ANNEXURE-I.

(c) & (d) Under the National ECCE Policy the States/UTs are required to introduce Annual Contextualized Curriculum along with Pre-School Education (PSE) kit by aligning to the curriculum, activity books and celebrate ECCE day on monthly basis. State/UT-wise status of implementation of National ECCE Policy based on above indicators is at ANNEXURE-II.

(e) The aims of the Policy/ scheme with reference to several success indicators including ‘Quality Standards for ECCE’ for building and infrastructure, pupil-teacher interaction, learning experiences planned for children, health, nutrition, personal care and routine, assessment and outcome measures and trained staff have been fulfilled to a large extent.

(f) No, Madam.

*******