Lok Sabha Question No. 3303 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2016-08-05
Subject: Regulation of Pre-primary Education
Ministry: WOMEN AND CHILD DEVELOPMENT
Asked by: N.K. PREMACHANDRAN

## 3303.  SHRI N.K. PREMACHANDRAN:

Will the Minister of WOMEN AND CHILD DEVELOPMENT be pleased to state:

- (a) whether the Government has taken note that pre-primary education becomes common in the country;
- (b) if so, the action taken by the Government to implement scientific methods for pre-primary education;
- (c) whether  the  Government  has  also  taken  note  that  the  pre-primary  education  is  established  throughout  the  country without any restriction and regulatory/monitoring mechanism;
- (d) if so, the action taken by the Government including bringing of legislation in this regard;
- (e) whether the Government has conducted any study regarding the impact of pre-primary education; and
- (f) if so, the details and the outcome thereof?

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF WOMEN AND CHILD DEVELOPMENT

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 3303

TO BE ANSWERED ON 05.08.2016

## REGULATION OF PRE-PRIMARY EDUCATION

## ANSWER

## MINISTER OF STATE IN MINISTRY OF WOMEN AND CHILD DEVELOPMENT (SHRIMATI KRISHNA RAJ)

- (a) to (d)  In India Pre-School Education (PSE)/ Early Childhood Care & Education (ECCE)  services are delivered through public, private and non-governmental service providers.  The public channel, ICDS is the largest service provider of ECCE.    3.50  crore  children  (3-6years)  are  attending    PSE  at  13.50  lakh  Anganwadi  Centers  as  per  information received from the States/UTs under ICDS Scheme as on 31.03.2016.

The Right of Children to Free and Compulsory Education Act (RTE) which came into effect from April1, 2010, has addressed ECCE under Section 11 of the Act which states, "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  arrangement  for  providing  free  pre-school education for such children".

The Government of India formulated and notified the National Early Childhood Care and Education (ECCE) Policy on 12.10.2013. The National ECCE Policy recognizes the unregulated private channel across the country although with varied  quality.    The  policy  also  recognizes  the  need  to  harmonize  the  activities  of  all  these  service  providers,  in accordance with service delivery norms, standards and regulations. To standardize the quality of PSE/ECCE in the country, basic quality standards and specifications have been laid down in National ECCE Policy. Further, guidelines have also been issued for National EECE curriculum framework and Quality standards for ECCE on 23.01.14 to be implemented by States/UTs in the country.  The guidelines adhere to the philosophy of integrated approach for holistic child  development.  The  quality  standards  focuses  on  the  use  of  developmentally  appropriate  toys  and  learning materials for  play/exploration, experimentation and problem solving.

- (e)    No Madam.
- (f)    Question does not arise.

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