A Concept Paper on the Need for Designing Need Based Quality Early Learning Centres in India to Foster Effective Learning, Literacy and Formal School Readiness

Learning is an innate and natural process of exploration that children engage in from birth. 2-5 year olds are the most capable learners who require a quality early childhood educational setting. Recent research in the field of neuroscience, particularly on the brain, has provided convincing evidence of the 'critical periods' located within these early years for the forming of synaptic connections in the brain and for the full development of the brain's potential. Research has also indicated that if these early years are not supported by or embedded in a stimulating and enriching physical and psychosocial environment, the chances of the child's brain developing to its full potential are considerably, and often irreversibly, reduced. This stage in life is also important as a foundation for the inculcation of social values and personal habits, which are known to last a lifetime. Early Childhood Care and Education (ECCE) drive its importance from this rationale. Against this rationale, it can be said that the need of the hour today in India is an enriched cost effective learner centric model of early learning environment to motivate children and prepare them for formal school readiness and also motivate parents to keep their children at early learning centres. In India, early childhood educational setting falls in a dual track mode, where the ICDS is a public sponsored initiative which caters to the disadvantaged group and private initiatives targeted for the higher socio-economic families. India does not have a regulatory body to evaluate the early learning centres, to develop curriculum and to assess children. This scenario has led to many other problems such as, children not being school ready, dropping out of school, variation in the cognitive and academic development between the same age group. In the present day set-up, children attend preschool or a kindergarten before schooling and it has become an integral part of the education system. As there are no regulatory body in assessing the early learning centres, the early learning centres are being started in garages and other inappropriate settings, with limited spaces for children. This concept paper highlights the need for designing need based quality early learning centres which are welcoming, vibrant and flexible, responsive to children and their changing needs, interests and abilities. This would in turn foster holistic development of the child and ensure formal school readiness.