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Punjab to start 1,700 nursery schools

Staff Correspondent

Pre-school to be made an integral part of primary education

CHANDIGARH: Under the Sarva Shiksha Abhiyan, the Punjab Government purposes to open 1,700 nursery school, an attempt which is expected to revolutionise the existing education system. It has also been decided to make pre-school an integral part of primary education in a phased manner.

According to an official release quoting School Education Minister Harnam Dass Johar, the intervention is aimed at sensitising children in their formative years and introducing them to school environment at a young age. It is also aimed at helping the girl child by relieving her of sibling care. This decision is expected to improve the quality of primary education substantially, as the children would know the basics as they entered primary school.

The Minister further emphasised that this scheme was also expected to help achieve the goals of the Universal Elementary Education (UEE) through increased participation of children in primary schools and reduce drop-out rate in later years. Studies have indicated that proper pre-school education programmes lead to better retention and improved grades in later years of schooling, which was a critical component in the overall development of a child.

Mr. Johar said that to start these nurseries all over the state, the government proposed to utilise the existing infrastructure of government schools. One hundred such schools would be started in each of the 17 districts. In these schools, child-specific approach would be adopted and children would be taught using the latest play-way methods and activity based techniques.

An Early Childhood Care and Educational (ECCE) Kit comprising of 24 items, has been developed for this purpose, which includes interesting items like puzzles, educative games, charts, conversation calendars, books and workbooks, playing boards, balls and toddler rings, building and learning blocks as well as clay. He revealed that the government classrooms were being given a new look keeping in mind the psychology of children. The walls and ceiling of the rooms for the Nursery Schools were being renovated and painted in bright colours along with attractive pictures of animal and cartoon characters to capture the children's imagination.

Jute matting and durries were being provided as seating arrangement for group activities along with bright coloured children furniture. Arrangements for safe drinking water during school hours have also been made. Mr. Johar affirmed that the move was being appreciated from all quarters. Many Village Education Committees and social organisations have hailed the move and said that this was a long-awaited step in the right direction. Many renowned educationists and Dalit leaders, while welcoming the scheme, said that the government had finally done justice to the poor children whose parents could not pay hefty fees demanded by private pre-schools.

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Punjab to start 1,700 nursery schools

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