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ಸಮಗ್ರ ಶಿಕ್ಷಣ ಕರ್ನಾಟಕ
Samagra Shikshana Karnataka

Samagra Shikshana Karnataka

Department of School Education

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EARLY CHILDHOOD CARE AND EDUCATION

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Early childhood education and care (ECEC) is a crucial stage in a child's development, typically encompassing the period from birth to age 8. Pre-primary schooling refers to the formal educational setting that prepares young children for entry into primary school, focusing on the development of foundational skills. This phase of learning usually begins around age 3 to 6, though it can vary depending on the country or region.

The primary goal of pre-primary education is to promote the holistic development of children. It includes fostering cognitive, social, emotional, and physical growth. Play-based learning is a cornerstone of pre-primary education, as it allows children to explore their environment, develop problem-solving skills, and improve their communication abilities in a natural and engaging way.

Preprimary education plays as important role in molding the personality of an individual by providing a foundation for lifelong learning. It contributes to the development of child in all areas – cognitive, emotional, social, moral, psychomotor and aesthetic. In addition the following aims are persuaded through variety of educational programs :

Development of creative expression and thinking

Pupil preparation for primary school and maximizing their potential for school

success.

Development of attributes of their personality such as taking incentives, persistence,

self- confidence and optimism.         

 

The Integrated Scheme for School Education envisages the ‘school’ as a continuum from Pre-School to Senior Secondary levels. This would cover preschools referred to by all nomenclatures such as Anganwadi, Balawadi, nursery, preschool, LKG, UKG, play centres etc.

Section 11 of the RTE Act, 2009 states that “with a view to prepare children above the age of three years for elementary education and to provide early childhood care and education for all children until they complete the age of six years, the appropriate government may make necessary arrangements for pre-school education for such children”.

Pre-primary schooling plays a vital role in the early development of children and serves as a foundation for lifelong learning. Research shows that children who attend pre-primary programs are more likely to perform better academically in later years. Early exposure to structured learning environments provides a strong academic foundation, which positively impacts their ability to grasp more complex concepts as they grow older. Here are several key justifications for the importance of pre-primary education.

The Department of Education is responsible for formulating the ECCE curriculum and teaching methods to ensure its continuity from pre-primary to primary school and to give major attention to the fundamentals of education. Children should be exposed to and immersed in multiple oral languages from an early age. Children learn concepts most rapidly and deeply in their home language, the primary medium of instruction would optimally be the child’s home language/ mother tongue/familiar language in the Foundational Stage.

 

ECCE IMPLEMENTION: