Lok Sabha Question No. 394 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2017-02-03
Subject: Regulation of Pre-School Education
Ministry: WOMEN AND CHILD DEVELOPMENT
Asked by: Shrirang Appa Barne, SHRIKANT EKNATH SHINDE, RAHUL RAMESH SHEWALE, MAHEISH GIRRI, VINAYAK BHAURAO RAUT, ANANDRAO  ADSUL, DHARMENDRA YADAV

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF WOMEN AND CHILD DEVELOPMENT

## LOK SABHA UN-STARRED QUESTION NO.394

TO BE ANSWERED ON 03-02-2017

## REGULATION OF PRE-SCHOOL EDUCATION

394.    SHRI SHRIRANG APPA BARNE:

DR. SHRIKANT EKNATH SHINDE:

SHRI RAHUL SHEWALE:

SHRI MAHEISH GIRRI:

SHRI VINAYAK BHAURAO RAUT:

SHRI ANANDRAO ADSUL:

SHRI DHARMENDRA YADAV :

Will the MINISTER OF WOMEN AND CHILD DEVELOPMENT be pleased to state:

- (a)        whether the Government had introduced the National Early Childhood Care and Education (ECCE) Policy to monitor pre-school education in the country and if so, the salient features thereof;
- (b)       whether the Government has taken note of recent incidents of sexual and physical abuse of children reported in play schools in various parts of the country and if so, the details thereof;
- (c)            whether  the  Government  proposes  a  policy  framework  to  introduce  guidelines  to  regulate  the standards in pre/play schools being run by Anganwadi centres as well as private sector/agencies and if so, the details thereof;
- (d)          whether  the  proposed  guidelines  will  cover  issues  such  as  teacher-student  ratio,  curriculum, infrastructure and the age of admission to pre-schools apart from safety and security aspects and if so, the details thereof; and
- (e)        the time by which such guidelines are likely to be introduced and implemented?

## ANSWER

MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF WOMEN AND CHILD EVELOPMENT (SMT KRISHNA RAJ)

- (a) Yes,  Madam.  The  Ministry  of  Women  and  Child  Development  has  notified  the  National  Early Childhood Care and Education (ECCE) Policy to monitor pre-school education in the country. The salient features/ key areas of the Policy are as below:
- i. Access with equity and inclusion in programmes and interventions across service providers;
- ii. Improving quality, Strengthening Capacity, Monitoring and Supervision
- iii. Research and Documentation
- iv. Advocacy and awareness generation
- v. Convergence and Coordination among policies and programmes
- vi. Institutional and Implementation Arrangements
- vii. Partnerships, Periodic Review and Increased investment towards ECCE
- (b)  Yes, Madam. The Government has taken note of three recent incidents of sexual and physical abuse of children at Play School/ Day Care Centre i.e. (i) Private Day Care Centre at Kharghar, Navi Mumbai,

Maharashtra; (ii) as reported in Amar Ujala, Delhi on 19.09.2016; and (iii) as reported in 'The Times of India',  Delhi  on  30.09.2016.  In  all  the  three  cases  the  investigations  have  been completed  and  the accused have been arrested.

- (c)  to  (e)  The  Government  has  developed  regulatory  framework  for  ECCE  Curriculum  and  Quality Standards  and  circulated  to  the  States/UTs  on  23.01.2014.  The  framework  includes  detailed guidelines  and  non-negotiable  quality  standards  and  specifications  to  regulate  the  standards  in pre/play  schools,  which  are  mandatory  for  all  public,  private  and  non-governmental  ECCE  service providers.  The  guidelines,  inter  alia  include  issues  such  as  building  and  infrastructure;  safety  and security  aspects;  pupil-teacher  interaction;  caregiver:  child  ratio;  learning  experiences  planned  for children; health, nutrition and protection measures; qualification and professional development of staff; parent and community involvement and organisation and management of the ECCE provision.

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