Early Childhood Care and Education
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Early Childhood Care and Education RAJENDRA N SRIVASTAVA Advisor, Indian CANCL Group, New Delhi. [email protected]
E
arly childhood years are the most crucial period for the development of physical and cognitive growth. Both genetic endowment and environmental factors determine the achievement of the ultimate developmental potential. Healthcare and nutrition, appropriate education, shelter and protection constitute the critical requisites for optimal growth and development. The measures to provide healthcare are well established, but education and learning during the early formative years have not been addressed adequately. In that context, the consensus statement by the Indian Academy of Pediatrics (IAP) on early childhood development (ECD) is a welcome effort [1]. It focuses on brain development and interventions for ECD that should begin early and be inclusive and available for all, especially for high risk and marginalized families.
that must be tackled by better micro-management and informing and educating the caregivers. Indeed, children must be given the ‘right to health’ (similar to the right to education), and the government must provide sufficient inputs to make it a reality [4] Early Childhood Education The ECCE policy document [2] reiterates the government’s commitment to promote inclusive, equitable and contextualized opportunities for promoting optimal development and active learning capacity of all children below 6 years. Early childhood is referred to as the first 6 years of life with sub-stages: conception to birth, birth to 3 years and 3 to 6 years, that have age specific needs. ECCE encompasses the inseparable elements of care, health, nutrition, play and early learning within a protective and enabling environment. As per 2011 census, India has 158.7 million children in the 0-6 year age group. Providing ECCE to them, especially those in the low income segments, is a formidable undertaking. The document mentions that the contribution of national programs that provide basic services, such as national rural health mission, total sanitation and drinking water campaign and several others is required towards providing an enabling environment. Various institutes that provide training for early childhood development will be strengthened. The policy document gives details of how ECCE is to be implemented through the ICDS program. The role of Non-governmental organizations is also mentioned.
It is important to be aware of the governmental plans toward provision of healthcare and education during early childhood. GOVERNMENT POLICIES AND PROGRAMS The National Early Childhood Care and Education (ECCE) policy [2] mentions the government’s commitment, and describes various measures to provide ECCE to all children in the 0-6 age group. The National plan of action for children focuses on the four key areas of survival, health, nutrition and education, and development [3]. Healthcare Various programs concerning antenatal and perinatal care, immunization, infant feeding, subsequent nutritional support, and care
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