NATIONAL EARLY CHILDHOOD CARE AND EDUCATION (ECCE) CURRICULUM FRAMEWORK Ministry of Women and Child Development

Early Childhood Care and Education

Objectives of Early Childhood Care and Education (ECCE)

The aim of Early Childhood Care and Education is to facilitate optimum development of the child’s full potential and lay the foundation for all round development and lifelong learning. While parents and home have the main responsibility of the welfare of the child, a strong partnership between the community and the ECCE centres is important for the well-being of the child and in achieving the following objectives.

Broad objectives of the Early Childhood Care and Education programme are to:

  1. Ensure each child is valued, respected, feels safe and secure and develops a positive self-concept
  2. Enable a sound foundation for physical and motor development of each child- as per each child’s potential
  3. Imbibe good nutrition routines, health habits, hygiene practices and self-help skills
  4. Enable children for effective communication and foster both receptive and expressive language
  5. Promote development and integration of the senses
  6. Stimulate intellectual curiosity and develop conceptual understanding of the world around by
  7. providing opportunities to explore, investigate and experiment
  8. Enhance development of pro-social skills, social competence and emotional well being
  9. Develop sense of aesthetic appreciation and stimulate creative learning processes.
  10. Imbibe culturally and developmentally appropriate behaviour and core human values of respect and love for fellow human beings.
  11. Enable a smooth transition from home to ECCE centre to formal schooling
  12. Enhance scope for overall personality development

The purpose of this framework is to promote quality and excellence in early childhood care and education by providing guidelines for child care and early educational practices.

Early Childhood Care and Education (ECCE) encompass the inseparable elements of care, health, nutrition, play and early learning within a protective and enabling environment. It is an indispensable foundation for lifelong development and learning, and has lasting impact on early childhood development.

Children also differ in their physical, emotional, social, and cognitive capacities. Each child requires a safe and nurturing environment to develop optimally.

Regardless of income, social status, geographic isolation, and other potential barriers, all children deserve and have a right to inclusive and equitable opportunities to build on their unique strengths.

Sources:-

NATIONAL EARLY CHILDHOOD CARE AND EDUCATION (ECCE) CURRICULUM FRAMEWORK

Ministry of Women and Child Development