Source: The post Early childhood care builds strong future foundations has been created, based on the article “Rewriting the script of early childhood education” published in “The Hindu” on 30 May 2025. Early childhood care builds strong future foundations.
UPSC Syllabus Topic: GS Paper2-governance-Issues relating to development and management of Social Sector/Services relating to Education
Context: India’s employment crisis partly stems from unequal childhood opportunities. Many children are born into poverty, affecting their future. However, targeted early childhood care and education (ECE) can reverse this. Inspired by Nobel Laureate James Heckman’s work, Indian states are adopting ECE reforms to improve life outcomes from an early age.
For detailed information on National Curriculum for Early Childhood Care and Education 2024 read this article here
Importance of Early Childhood Education (ECE)
- Heckman’s Economic Model Heckman’s curve shows high returns on early childhood investments, generating $7 to $12 per dollar invested. Early educational interventions profoundly impact lifelong earnings, home ownership, and overall life quality.
- Critical Learning Gaps By age five, foundational disparities emerge, affecting lifelong outcomes. Skills such as basic object matching and number recognition, crucial for primary education, are underdeveloped if early instruction is insufficient.
Challenges in India’s ECE System
- Limited Instructional Time: About 5.5 crore children aged three to six attend Anganwadis and pre-primary schools, yet instruction is minimal. Anganwadi workers dedicate only 38 minutes daily to preschool education instead of the recommended two hours, severely limiting learning outcomes.
- Resource Allocation Issues: India spends just ₹1,263 annually per child on ECE versus ₹37,000 per student in primary education. Resources often remain underutilized due to teacher shortages and inadequate oversight, with one supervisor managing 282 Anganwadis.
- Parental Engagement Gap: While parents value education, many lack the resources or guidance to effectively support early learning. Greater parental involvement through accessible methods such as EdTech apps or direct engagement programs can significantly enhance children’s educational outcomes.
State-led Innovations
1.Uttar Pradesh Initiatives: Uttar Pradesh is recruiting 11,000 ECE educators for its Balavatikas across all districts. It also initiated intensive training programs for master trainers, focusing on early childhood pedagogy.
- Odisha’s Approach Odisha introduced Shishu Vatikas in government schools for five-to-six-year-olds, using innovative tools like the Jaduipedi Kits to enhance early learning and ensure school readiness.
- Madhya Pradesh’s Parental Engagement: The state’s monthly Bal Choupal program educates parents about play-based learning benefits. Additionally, using smartphones, initiatives like WhatsApp and EdTech apps can further strengthen parental participation in early childhood development.
Future Implications and Vision
- Economic and Social Potential: With targeted ECE funding and effective parental engagement, India could empower 200 million citizens to overcome birth disadvantages, significantly boosting future workforce productivity and global economic influence.
- Pathway to India’s Global Leadership: Strategically investing in early education is crucial to achieving India’s ambition of becoming a global leader—Vishwa Guru—by preparing today’s children to become tomorrow’s innovators and leaders.
Question for practice:
Examine how targeted investment in early childhood education and parental engagement can help overcome the disadvantages associated with the lottery of birth in India.
