Why Early Childhood Care and Education is so important in education?
Rationale for Early Childhood Care and Education
National Curriculum Framework for Foundational Stage-2022 states that research from across the world on education, neuroscience, and economics demonstrates clearly that ensuring free, accessible, high quality ECCE is perhaps the very best investment that any country can make for its future.
As mentioned earlier, brain development is most rapid in the first eight years of a child’s life, indicating the critical importance of cognitive and socio-emotional stimulation in the early years.
Children naturally take to play-based activity in the early years. Children exposed to age-appropriate, physical, educational, and social activities through play-based methods learn better and grow better.
When the quality of stimulation, support and nurture is lacking, there can be detrimental effects on overall development.
The period of early childhood lays the foundation for life-long learning and development and is a key determinant of the quality of adult life.
Learning delays can be greatly reduced with the help of intervention in the early years.
Efforts to improve early child development are thus an investment, not a cost. Investing in quality early education helps to promote long-term economic growth of the nation while also helping to target the development of the health, cognitive skills, and character necessary for the future success of the individual.
In conclusion:
For all these reasons – from brain development to school-preparedness, improved learning outcomes, equality and justice, employability, and the prosperity and economic growth of the country – India must invest in accessible and quality ECCE for all children, with proper oversight and light regulation to ensure high quality developmentally appropriate stimulation for all children.
Resources:- National Curriculum Framework for Foundational Stage-2022
https://ncert.nic.in/pdf/NCF_for_Foundational_Stage_20_October_2022.pdf
