Opinion
Early Childhood Education : Need of the Hour
Industry experts discuss the challenges and desirable improvements in Early Childhood Education in India
Industry experts discuss the challenges and desirable improvements in Early Childhood Education in India:
Smriti Agarwal
Senior Headmistress, Podar Jumbo Kids Powai
Is the setting of certain quality standards for pre-schools feasible in India?
Setting certain standards for preschools is definitely feasible in India. With all her diversity, demographic, cultural and financial differences, India can still regularise certain quality standards such as hygiene, safety, nutrition and well-being of children. Whether it is an anganwadi or a high-end preschool, basic standards can be set, audited and maintained if we take it up seriously.
Should teachers undergo a separate training system to deal with children in this age category?
Teachers are the hands which sculpt the soft mud into beautiful, desirable and successful sculptures to be proud of. If a sculpture/ artist/ doctor/ surgeon needs to undergo specialised education and training to be a master of their craft or to save lives, how can teachers not require specific, specialised and separate training to handle the age where the human brain is developing to its ultimate potential? We have to look into the training of preschool teachers very scientifically and organically.
How can we improve the quality of Early Childhood Education in India?
We can improve the quality of Early Childhood Education by first acknowledging the need and importance of Early Childhood Education. Only once we understand its importance and attach certain value to it, will we look at investing in it and making it beneficial and a must for each and every child.
What can be done to protect young children from being victims of molestation?
To protect children from molestation we have to understand two basic formulae which are; children have to be taught and sensitised towards good and bad touch from an early age along with equipping them with the knowledge of what do in which situation. Secondly, the trust factor has to be reviewed. Children by nature are curious and trust easily. Along with caretakers and adults of the house, children should know who is trustworthy. Most of the time, it is a family member, neighbour, help at home or a known person who is the molester.
How well-informed are parents in India about the importance of Early Childhood Education compared to other countries?
Awareness is there in India too, but maybe due to our vast diversity, the percentage is lesser than other countries. What India lacks is not only awareness but the understanding of Early Childhood Education. We have to know that Early Childhood Education is not a stepping stone for primary school but an experience and stimulus to develop skills and intelligence for life. It is not a preparatory school but a school for life.
What do you think are the main concerns and challenges facing ECE in India?
According to me, one of the main concerns and challenges ECE is facing in India is the lack of a separate governing body for ECE.
ECE cannot come under education or the Women and Child Development ministry. It requires a body which is made up of ECE professionals, who understand the needs, seriousness, issues and requirements of ECE. A separate ministry which understands the training, curriculum, age-appropriate development and developmental milestones in the early years. All concerns and challenges of safety, security, hygiene, curriculum, assessments and stress in early years can be dealt with if we have norms and regulations for ECE. Proper training and guidance should be given to preschool owners and teachers. If stakeholders can realise that this is not just a business but an extremely sensitive responsibility which is shaping the future then maybe the concerns can be addressed and challenges can be met.
Kaiser Ahmed
Orange International Preschool
Is the setting of certain quality standards for pre-schools feasible in India?
Yes, it is so important and it needs to be set up. Basic quality standards in pre-schools will be feasible as long as parents are informed about the advantages of such standards. The prerogative is to be sincere and well-planned in the implementation of quality standards.
Should teachers undergo a separate training system to deal with children in this age category?
The preschool age is the most important age and a qualified teacher in terms of experience and training can play a vital role in nurturing the kids at such a juncture. The government as well as some reputable preschools must take a call regarding this issue. Appointing a teacher without basic ECE experience can be a big mistake sometimes.
How can we improve the quality of Early Childhood Education in India?
There is lack of knowledge and awareness among masses about ECE. A nation-wide campaign needs to be started about the importance of ECE. Expert committees need to be set up to monitor the functioning of pre-schools. Parents need to be involved in certain school and home activities. Videos and short movies of perfect implementation of Early Childhood Education in other countries need to be shown and circulated.
What can be done to protect young children from being victims of molestation?
A proper and well-versed Do and Don'ts list needs to be implemented in schools, public places, at homes and they need to be evaluated from time to time.
Strict punishments for offenders and a fast-track legal course may definitely give some good results.
How well-informed are parents in India about the importance of Early Childhood Education as compared to other countries?
In India, most parents do not know the importance of ECE. Most parents still consider preschool as a creche.
What do you think are the main concerns and challenges facing ECE in India?
The main challenge is the ignorance from the government in recognising that ECE has an important role in imparting education, non-availability of trained staff and ignorance of parents.
Sonia Chugh
Director, Happy Minds International
Is the setting of certain quality standards for pre-schools feasible in India?
Why not? There are many such bodies available abroad. Private preschools are free to adapt and implement. Happy Minds International is using guidelines of NAEYC (National Association for the Education of Young Children) since the last seven years.
But surely, it can be expected from a government balwadi.
Should teachers undergo a separate training system to deal with children in this age category?
I definitely think, yes.
How can we improve the quality of Early Childhood Education in India?
We should have the standard guidelines for preschools for the nation, which can be adapted from already proven successful bodies for curriculum and teachers.
For space and infrastructure, minimum requirements standards, should be setup as a part of the guidelines.
What can be done to protect young children from being victims of molestation?
Education and intervention are the key. It should start from home, with the support of parents. Transparency should be maintained by all schools, where parents should have all rights to be a part of it.
How well-informed are parents in India about the importance of Early Childhood Education compared to other countries?
Early Childhood Education for majority of the parents means reading, writing and competing at an early age.
They don't understand that early childhood care is about developing life skills. It's socio-emotional development which takes place first, which is not understood by many.
What do you think are the main concerns and challenges facing ECE in India?
Awareness for the requirement of a body to set standards is missing. Each and every pre-primary should ideally first register with a standard body. Parents should know that such guidelines exist.
Rita Bose
Disharee Montessori House
President, Montessori Association of Calcutta
Is the setting of certain quality standards for pre-schools feasible in India?
Yes
Should teachers undergo a separate training system to deal with children in this age category?
Yes
How can we improve the quality of Early Childhood Education in India?
a) Fully trained adults for that age group
b) An environment (room, furniture, toilets) suitable to them
c) Working material should concentrate on hand-eye coordination. More material offered to the hands eg. plasticine
d) Less interference of adult while child is working
e) Once material is presented to the child let him/ her select what they want to work with. Let the child repeat as many times as he/she wants
f) You observe while the child absorbs
What can be done to protect young children from being victims of molestation?
Stress the use of NO to the child for certain actions of adults, things offered by unknown persons. To be wary when an unknown person says that ‘Your mother has sent me to take you’.
How well-informed are parents in India about the importance of Early Childhood Education compared to other countries?
Parents are not so well informed and one needs to spread the message.
What do you think are the main concerns and challenges facing ECE in India?
a) Parental ignorance
b) Reluctance of parents to recognise any problem in the child – physical, intellectual, mental or social
c) Availability of correct environment and qualified adults
Santwana Basu
Casa Dei Bambini, Bhowanipore
Is the setting of certain quality standards for pre-schools feasible in India?
In West Bengal, this is feasible only for private schools. For government schools and NGOs, it will be difficult.
Should teachers undergo a separate training system to deal with children in this age category?
Of course! A teacher should have a proper training at least for a year and some work experience.
How can we improve the quality of ECE in India?
We are moving towards modernisation. Tomorrow's children have to face changes and challenges. I feel that Vedic mantra chanting is important in a simple form and it should be inculcated in ECE from the beginning
What can be done to protect young children from being victims of molestation?
An adult should be taught how to handle children through workshops. Similarly, children should be given certain lessons on what is good touch and bad touch.
How well informed are parents in India about the importance of ECE compared to other countries?
In larger cities, parents are better aware of ECE but the awareness has not reached the suburbs and rural areas yet.
What do you think are the main concerns and challenges facing ECE in India?
In West Bengal, people are not aware of the importance of foundation programmes for Early Childhood Education. Over the past decade, the unfortunate reality is that the income gap has widened more between the low poverty group of people. So they do not give enough attention for giving readiness or awareness programme for pre-school.
Bela Kotwani
Cosmikids International
Is the setting of certain quality standards for pre-schools feasible in India?
Feasibility is a by-product of diligent curriculum curation and orchestration. A suggestion is to assign logistic management to a non-government entity funded with government aid and accountability shared by government and the assigned entity.
Do you think teachers should undergo a separate training system to deal with children in this age category?
A distinctive training for this age group is not only recommended but must be taken into serious consideration as they are the most formative years of a child’s life.
How can we improve the quality of Early Childhood Education in India?
Ordinance via the above recommended non-government entity must be created and decorum must be inspected consistently.
What can be done to protect young children from being victims of molestation?
Indian families are traditional and religion-based which contributes to a strong foundation but on the flipside makes parents timid about having difficult conversations with children. This reservation proves detrimental to a child facing the outside world. Predatory behaviour, incest, molestation are difficult topics. It’s our reaction that gives negative or positive power to a conversation. A neutral and objective conversation with our children at four years of age and regularly thereafter, will make a difference. Let’s not leave this task up to educators and law makers, let’s take care of it at home.
How well-informed are parents in India about the importance of Early Childhood Education compared to other countries?
I think a glimpse of awareness can be seen, however a tendency to have a herd mentality in following the West more for style and elitist recognition is evident. There is a need to stick to our roots, but develop our educational structure for global awareness.
What do you think are the main concerns and challenges facing ECE in India?
Standardised training, integrity of curriculum, increased parent guilt resulting in trying to parent remotely resulting in a teaching faculty that is caught between ‘a rock and a hard place’ trying to please the parents while maintaining the integrity of education.
Diana Tyagi
Podar Jumbo kids
Is the setting of certain quality standards for preschools feasible in India?
In my opinion, setting quality standards for preschools in India will not be feasible unless we overcome hindrances such as lack of strong leadership, lack of safe orderly classroom equipment and teachers who will focus on the basics of curriculum not having high expectations that actually over exceed the students potential. Moreover, poor pupil-teacher ratio is also a significant obstacle in India, along with lack of constant monitoring via assessment and feedback, coupled with lack of teacher quality (as in my opinion formal qualifications cannot be substituted by lack of passion).
Should teachers undergo a separate training system to deal with children in this age category?
The education sector is a very dynamic sector and a good teacher needs to be constantly updated with best practices across the world which means re-evaluating and reflecting ones pedagogical skills through professional development and training. After all, at the end of the day a teacher too is a human being and most of her teaching practices and beliefs stem from her own experiences. The need to transform such existing beliefs requires redesigning of professional development modules designed in such a manner that they infuse theory sessions and also focus on generic skills.
How can we improve the quality of Early Childhood Education in India?
As there is no single definition for quality, two principles characterise quality in Early Childhood Education. The first identifies the learner’s cognitive development as a major objective of the educational system and the second emphasises the role of education in promoting values and attitudes and nurturing a creative and emotional development. We need to start with learners ie. those individuals with different attitudes in learning styles having personal attributes influenced by their home and social backgrounds. Thus the learning environment needs to be inclusive thereby building on the strength of the learners. Secondly, we need to improve teaching and learning which means updating the curriculum content by making teaching methods more effective paying greater attention to factors like the language of instruction, regular timely reliable assessments and lastly by paying great attention to policies for selecting, training, supporting, deploying and rewarding of teachers.
What can be done to protect young children from being victims of molestation?
Most offenders are known to the child or the family and can sometimes even be family members or relatives. It is important to teach children about good touch and bad touch, educate them that no one has the right to touch their bodies. Similarly, we need to even teach them the right to privacy of other people. It’s very important that no secrets be kept between parent and child and the child should be made comfortable to talk openly to the parents on any issue in this regard. The child should be made aware of special gifts, toys or special outings offered suspiciously by any adult.
Also, when a parent enrols the child in the school or a daycare they should be very clear for opting for an organisation that that believes in an ‘open door policy’ and they should regularly monitor and participate in the child’s school activities whenever possible. Constantly sharing of news items and published reports of child sexual abuse with the child is a great way to initiate discussions of safety. Importantly, any child discussing history of sexual abuse should be heard carefully and the disclosure should be taken very seriously and not discarded, as very often children are not believed, particularly if the perpetrator is a family member.
How well informed are the parents in India about the importance of Early Childhood Education compared to other countries?
Parents in India are unaware of how crucial Early Childhood Education is in helping the child achieve not only ‘school ready status’ but the child’s life outcomes in terms of health and income levels. Unfortunately, private sectors offering so many standalone playschools are entirely unregulated with rudimentary understanding of children’s development. Indian parents’ aspirations differ from parents of other countries, once they make the preliminary investigations regarding the teacher – child ratio, fee structure, enquiries regarding basic educational philosophy or how discipline will be handled they pay up and feel their job ends there. Sadly, parents are completely unaware about the brain development being the highest during the first four years of life.
What do you think are the main concerns and challenges facing ECE in India?
In my opinion, one of the main concerns and challenges facing ECE in India today is the fact that full and equal access and achievement in basic education of good quality is lacking. Secondly, the professional status of teaching is at an all-time low and teaching is not considered as one of the most sought-after careers in India. Moreover, the financial compensation angle is deplorable as it is a highly underpaid job resulting in the profession being dominated by women, thus we see less males preferring to be teachers. The ongoing commercialisation of education results in ‘the modern temples of education’ – with infrastructures equivalent to a five-star resort, classrooms today with air conditioning in them as well as in the buses used to commute to and fro. The lack of intellectual liberty and freedom is what teachers miss in this day and age in their profession which ends at curtailing their motivation to learn, innovate and update their practices.
Natasha Baruah
Globe Tot'ers – A Birla Preschool
Is the setting of certain quality standards for pre-schools feasible in India?
A well research centralised curriculum with an integrated teaching approach based on the fundamental principles of education proposed by UNESCO i.e. Four Pillars of Education: Learning to be, Learning to do, Learning to know and Learning to live together will definitely set a quality standard in the preschools of India. The value of setting standards will be possible when we recognize and accept that Early Childhood Education is a vital developmental need for all the children and that every child has a right to equitable quality education.
Should teachers undergo a separate training system to deal with children in this age category?
The focused trainings will help the teachers to enhance their knowledge, the scientific approach to teaching, understanding the teaching pedagogy, child psychology as well as develop enthusiasm and passion for teaching the children. Communication skills of the teacher are very important as it creates effective difference in the child’s life. It is essential to target classroom experiences with hands-on learning guidelines for teachers to ensure learning is happening in the classroom. Therefore, a separate training system will definitely help the teachers to focus on the needs of a particular age group.
How can we improve the quality of Early Childhood Education in India?
We can improve the quality of Early Childhood Education in India by developing and following a suggestive developmentally age appropriate activity based curriculum that also highlights the various skills and Meta skills the child needs to acquire. Regular training workshops for teachers will help them to enhance their communication as well as enhance their teaching skills. Involvement of family and community through Early Childhood Education forums will also help to educate the people about the vitality of the early years’ education in a child’s life.
What can be done to protect young children from being victims of molestation?
The following can be done to protect young children from being victims of molestation:
a. A trusted adult supervision is required both in case of a girl as well as a boy.
b. In today’s world our lives have become dependent on support staff due to our busy schedules but it is very important that while appointing them we must do proper background check supported by a police verification. Also speaking to the past employer about them if possible, may help before recruiting them.
c. The children should not be left unsupervised. If caretakers are in-charge of the child, strict rules must be shared with them. However, a vigilant eye and regular monitoring will help to prevent accidents.
d. Teaching about body safety to the children through good touch and bad touch is very important. It is also very essential to teach about the people who are in their safe circle for e.g. father, mother, teachers etc. and shout for help if required when they experience any discomfort.
e. Regular sessions with parents to create awareness need to be conducted for the same.
How well informed are parents in India about the importance of Early Childhood Education compared to other countries?
The focus of parent’s in India from a young age of their child is on the academic progress of the child. Therefore, due to the lack of proper knowledge and confidence of the parents on the holistic education, the importance of Early Childhood Education as compared to other countries is ignored. Surely and steadily the awareness is increasing due to social media and other resources. The parent of today is looking for schools which provide more experiential learning with understanding rather than rote learning without understanding.
What do you think are the main concerns and challenges facing ECE in India?
Lack of awareness of the importance of ECE is the main concern and challenge. The organizations promoting ECE are non-affordable for the people with low average earnings. The initiative by the Government of India in creating widespread awareness as well as taking up intensive teacher training programmes will help the country to reach and preach the Early Childhood Education sector.
Kausar Ladiwala
Globe Tot'ers – A Birla Preschool, Jubilee Hills and Gopanpally
Is the setting of certain quality standards for preschools feasible in India?
Yes, surely. The early years of education are the building blocks of a child’s personality. With time, we have seen the cognitive domain of children growing, therefore it becomes essential to set a standard of quality in order to ensure uniformity. Young children learn at different rates across the various stands of their development and not all children master skills and content within an area in the same order therefore setting a quality standard becomes important for achieving skills, acquiring knowledge and developing positive attitudes.
The current curriculums that are being implemented in all preschools in India are meeting the latest trends in curriculum development, that have been designed after extensive research in various domains of neuroscience.
Should teachers undergo a separate training system to deal with children in this age category?
Yes. We think teachers should undergo a separate training system to deal with children in this age category. This will provide teachers with a greater chance of success in their professions. It will provide them with knowledge, experience and the methods to deal with a variety of situations that commonly arise in a classroom. Considering the challenges teachers face in the classroom with children from diverse background, abilities and potential, it becomes essential for teachers to undergo training in order to tackle issues with ease. While all teachers experiment with new lessons and techniques from time to time, teachers without proper training find themselves learning by ‘Trial & Error’. This experimenting comes at the cost of student education.
How can we improve the quality of Early Childhood Education in India?
Use observation and assessment to support every child’s needs across all developmental domains to ensure growth. Create a link between assessment and planning. Create a culture of continuous quality improvement. Focus first on children’s safety, health and happiness.
How well informed are parents in India about the importance of Early Childhood Education compared to other countries?
In India, till the late ’90s parents sent their children to school at the age of four years. They approached K-12 schools of reputation, mostly in academics and ensured that their child got admission from LKG and did not have to worry till the child finished class 12. The first three years of the child’s life was spent at home with the mother, mostly playing. With the arrival of new millennium, there was a visible change in the mind-set of the parents, especially in the metro cities. The new age parents and parenting style had arrived big time in India. This was mostly because of the IT sector development, as the working mothers got an opportunity to research, analyse and discuss about the various options available for schooling her child and provide the best Early Childhood Education. Indian parents have become more aware of the importance of Early Childhood Education in recent times and are almost at par with the parents of the West. This has been possible due to the influence of the Western world, as a result of travel due to work or pleasure. Many eminent educationists from India have visited schools across the world and have adopted their best practices here.
What can be done to protect young children from being victims of molestation?
Some measures to be taken to protect young children from being victims…
a. As a part of curriculum, rhymes on molestation should be a part of the programme, in order to create a sense of awareness among children of that age group.
b. During circle time, safety rules and methods should to be taught to the children. (Good touch and bad touch)
c. Developing a sense of equality for girls and boys.
d. A kid to kid guide to keep private parts private.
e. Relevant books to be kept in the reading centre – safe touch education books, your body belongs to you, yell and tell, some parts are not for sharing etc. f. Documents submitted during recruitment of staff (Teaching/Non-Teaching) have to be verified and rectified.
g. Seminars and workshops on child’s molestation to be conducted for parents and staff (Teaching/ Non-Teaching).
What do you think are the main concerns and challenges facing ECE in India?
The challenges faced by ECE in India are:
Standardisation of curriculum: The focus is mostly on academic readiness rather than catering to overall child development or cognitive development. Paying equal attention to life skills, and offering fun based exploratory learning activities to the child during these formative years is equally challenging. Moreover, the curriculum needs to be designed in such a way that a child has a smooth transition to the main school. Relevant skills like communication,
interpersonal, research, independent thinking need to be enhanced too.
Lack of trained faculty: Many states of India where, institutions of teacher’s education are not widely present, availability of trained and experienced teachers are limiting deficits. Schools are therefore, forced to hire lesser qualified teachers, which in turn affects the quality of teaching.
Parents’ concerns: A lot of parents have concerns regarding the right age for admission, methodology and choosing a school. Due to nuclear families parents also do not have anybody to guide them on dealing with the children. Onus then comes on Early Childhood educators to do the needful.
Issues with language: India being a diverse country has many languages. Getting teachers to understand and communicate in their mother tongue and yet teach in an official language is a difficult task.