Why in the news? 

For the first time ever, the Central government has released curriculum advisable to be taught to children aged three to six-years-old

Objective of Aadharshila 

• The early childhood education curriculum is expected to bridge foundational literacy and numeracy gaps which may arise in later school years

Who Launched?

• The Ministry of Women and Child Development (MWCD) has released the National Curriculum for Early Childhood Care and Education 2024 titled ‘Aadharshila,’ on the lines of the National Education Policy 2020 and the National Curriculum Framework.

Where? 

• Aadharshila (translated as foundation stone) is a detailed 48-week curriculum meant for learning in the age-group of three to six-year-olds in anganwadis.

Significance Aadharshila’s Curriculum

• Structure of Curriculum: The curriculum is organized on a weekly basis, comprising 48 weeks of learning over a three-year duration. It is designed to cater to children aged three to six attending anganwadis.
• Initiation Phase: The curriculum begins with four weeks of initiation, focusing on academic activities to help children transition from home to the anganwadi center. These activities are engaging and involve fun and free play.
• Exploration Phase: The subsequent 36 weeks are dedicated to exploration, free play, conversation, creation, and appreciation. Activities during this phase include storytelling, singing rhymes, art and craft, and other engaging activities. Storytelling themes often revolve around conflict resolution, responsibility, and cooperation.
• Learning Objectives: Children learn various concepts such as colors, shapes, numbers, body parts, family and friends, listening and responding to instructions, basic counting, and themes like seasons, festivals, and food.

Anganwadi 

• Anganwadi services in India are a part of the Integrated Child Development Services (ICDS) scheme, which was launched on 2 October 1975.
• The main objective of the Anganwadi programme is to improve the nutritional and health status of children in the age group of 0-6 years, to lay the foundation for proper psychological, physical, and social development of the child, and to reduce the incidence of mortality, morbidity, malnutrition, and school dropout.

Conclusion: The release of ‘Aadharshila’ marks a significant step in early childhood education, aiming to bridge foundational gaps. To enhance its effectiveness, continuous monitoring, teacher training, and community involvement are essential.

Mains PYQ 

Q National Education Policy 2020 isin conformity with the Sustainable Development Goal-4 (2030). It intends to restructure and reorient education system in India. Critically examine the statement (UPSC IAS/2020) 

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