(a) whether the UNICEF in its globally released report has stressed that 34%
of Muslim children do not attend pre-schooling;
(b) if so, the reasons therefor and the reaction of the Government thereon;
(c) whether the Ministry is contemplating to reverse the trend not only in
Muslims but also in Christians where 26% children do not attend preschool;
and
(d) if so, the details thereof?
MINISTER OF STATE (INDEPENDENT CHARGE) FOR MINORITY AFFAIRS
(SHRI MUKHTAR ABBAS NAQVI)
(a) & (b): Rapid Survey on Children (RSOC), conducted by UNICEF in 29 states
during 2013-14, indicates that 34% and 25.6% of Muslim and Christian children
respectively (below the age group 6 years) do not attend any pre-school
education.
(c) & (d): Early Childhood Care & Education (ECCE) is one of the six free
services provided through the Anganwadi Centres (AWC) located across the
country under the Integrated Child Development Service (ICDS) Scheme being
implemented by the Ministry of Women & Child Development as a Centrally
Sponsored Scheme. The ICDS is a universal self-selecting Scheme available to
all the beneficiaries who enrol at the AWCs irrespective of caste or religion. The
ICDS Scheme aims at holistic development of children of target age group of 6
months to 6 years and the ECCE component seeks to lay the foundation for
proper psychological, physical and social development of the child while
preparing for proper formal education.
The Government of India has reaffirmed its commitment to promote ‘Early
Childhood Care and Education’ by formulating and notifying the ‘National Early
Childhood Care and Education policy’. The vision of National 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. It
envisages improving pathways for a successful and smooth transition from care
and education provided at home to centre based ECCE and thereafter to
school-age provision by facilitating an enabling environment through appropriate
systems, processes and provisions across the country. It recognizes the
synergistic and interdependent relationship between the health, nutrition,
psycho-social and emotional needs of the child.
ICDS Scheme has been universalized to cover 14 lakh habitations and about
3.50 crore children (3-6years) are attending Pre-School Education (PSE) at
13.50 lakh Anganwadi Centers as per information received from the States/UTs
under ICDS Scheme as on 31.03.2016.
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