Question : National Early Childhood Care and Education Policy

the salient features and objectives of the National Early Childhood Care and Education (NECCE) Policy;

(b) whether the Government provides any funds under the policy for its implementation and if so, the details thereof indicating the funds allocated/disbursed and utilised thereunder during each of the last three years and the current year, State/UT-wise;

(c) the performance of States/UTs in implementation of the policy indicating the achievements made by them during the said period, State/UT-wise;

(d) whether curriculum and activity banks have been prepared by all the States/UTs under the policy, if so, the details and compliance status thereof, State/UT-wise;

(e) whether objectives of the policy have been fulfilled and if so, the details thereof;

(f) whether the Government proposes to revise the said policy and if so, the details thereof along with the further measures taken for effective implementation of the policy?

MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF WOMEN AND CHILD DEVELOPMENT
(SHRIMATI KRISHNA RAJ)

(a) The objectives of the National Early Childhood Care & Education (ECCE) Policy, 2013 are:
i. Facilitate comprehensive childcare supports, infrastructure and services aimed at holistic well-being of children and responsive to their developmental needs along the continuum of care from conception to age six years.
ii. Universalise and reinforce ECCE and ensure adaptive strategies for inclusion of all children with specific attention to vulnerable children.
iii. Engage capable human resources and build their capacity to enhance and develop quality services for children and their families.
iv. Set out the quality standards and curriculum framework for ECCE provisions and ensure their application and practice through advocacy and enforcement through appropriate institutional arrangements.
v. Raise awareness and create common understanding about the significance of ECCE and promote strong partnerships with communities and families in order to improve the quality of life of young children through institutional and programmatic means and appropriate use of technology as required.
vi. Recognise diversity of contexts, develop and promote culturally appropriate strategies and materials and work within the framework of decentralized governance using participating and locally responsive approaches.

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) Yes, Madam, 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 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 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) Yes, Madam, the objectives of the Policy 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.