PANAJI: High schools and higher secondary schools in the state will have to adopt at least one anganwadi or balwadi and help improve the delivery of education in these government-run pre-primary schools. The move comes in view of the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020, as per which pre-primary schools are considered a part of mainstream schooling and a crucial foundational stage of education.
“As a base in education, the foundation stage is the most important stage in the development of individuals which in turn will be beneficial to the society. Keeping this in mind, it is envisaged that the anganwadis and balwadis are duly supported by the institutions in the locality,” the directorate of education said in a circular.
Therefore, the heads of all secondary and higher secondary schools have been asked to adopt at least one anganwadi and “ensure that it is well supported so that the students going to these balwadis get the best possible facilities”.
“The heads of the institutions should identify the balwadis in the vicinity in consultation with the respective managements and provide the information in the Google form latest by August 5,” the directorate said.
Under the NEP, the first five years of education will be known as the foundational stage. This stage starts with the nursery at age three and will include the present KG-1, KG-2, Class I and Class II.
Of the 21,071 students that were enrolled in Class I in Goa during the academic year 2020-21, 72% had studied in a pre-primary school, as per the data of the Unified District Information System (U-DISE) of the Union education ministry.
While anganwadi centres are looked after by the women and child development department, the directorate of education is now trying to bring private pre-primary schools under its purview.
FacebookTwitterInstagramKOO APPYOUTUBE