SCERT prepares curriculum books for Anganwadis in Maharashtra
The SCERT has prepared handbooks titled Maitri Balmanashi (friendship with a child) in two parts created for Anganwadi teachers.
The curriculum is designed to achieve five developmental goals in early childhood education: language, cognitive, physical, social, and emotional development.
It defines clear learning outcomes and outlines appropriate pedagogical approaches for each level.
The curriculum includes not only what should be taught and how, but also emphasises structured activities and the importance of parental involvement.
A key feature is the inclusion of field visits to local places such as post offices, farms, shops, and markets.
'The objective is to stimulate various senses of children through observation and curiosity. Learning in the classroom cannot be isolated from the surroundings in which children live. For instance, instead of just showing images of a train, children will benefit more by visiting a railway station and observing a real train,' explained an SCERT official.
A committee of experts was formed to design this curriculum and prepare the handbooks.
While Anganwadi teachers are being trained by SCERT to effectively implement the curriculum, these handbooks will serve as practical guides for teaching at each pre-primary level—nursery, junior KG, and senior KG.
Highlighting inclusive education, the curriculum also equips teachers to identify developmental delays and support children with special needs.
Welcoming the initiative, Mahendra Ganpule from Maharashtra School Principals' Association, said, 'This is the first time that books have been developed for pre-primary education. The AI developed images in the books are noteworthy as opposed to conventional drawings and images used in books.'
The curriculum is based on learning goals outlined under Aadharsheela—the national framework for early childhood care and education targeting children aged 3 to 6 years, who are now formally included under education as per the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020.
While the handbooks are being distributed to Anganwadi teachers, they are also available on the SCERT website for other pre-primary institutions.
With pre-primary education now integrated into the formal system, schools have been directed to upload data of these students to the Unified District Information System for Education (UDISE), the official repository for school education statistics.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
New Indian Express
12 hours ago
- New Indian Express
835 Godabarish Mishra Adarsh primary schools to be set up in first phase: CM Majhi
BHUBANESWAR: The state government on Monday decided to set up 835 model primary schools under the Godabarish Mishra Adarsh Prathamika Vidyalaya programme in the first phase with an aim to bring transformation in the education system in line with the National Education Policy. This was decided at a high-level meeting chaired by Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi at Lok Seva Bhawan. As per the decision taken in the meeting, the Vidyalayas will act as feeder schools for the high schools in the state. Each school will be developed at a cost of Rs 7 crore. Schools with more than 100 students and having over 2 acre land and classes from Sishu Vatika to Class-VIII will be selected for development as model schools under the scheme. The chief minister emphasised that one Adarsh Vidyalaya will be constructed in each gram panchayat headquarters, taking into account the geographical location. Quality education will be provided on par with national standards, considering the socio-economic background of the students.
Time of India
14 hours ago
- Time of India
Nagaland University launches interdisciplinary master of arts in language and culture
MUMBAI: Nagaland University, the only central university in the state, launched a Master of Arts programme in Language and Culture, an interdisciplinary master's degree. The programme is a timely and significant initiative aimed at preserving, promoting, and advancing the rich linguistic and cultural heritage of the Naga people. In keeping with the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020, which stresses the importance of interdisciplinary and multidisciplinary approaches that underscore the interconnectedness of knowledge, the course will allow students to learn and explore different courses or curricula from various areas of study, instead of being confined to only one discipline. Students who graduate from this programme will be equipped to avail themselves of NET exams in three papers: 1) Linguistics, 2) Folk Literature, and 3) Tribal and Regional Language. You Can Also Check: Mumbai AQI | Weather in Mumbai | Bank Holidays in Mumbai | Public Holidays in Mumbai The first batch will commence classes on August 5, 2025. A total of 20 students will be admitted to this programme. Speaking about this new programme, Prof. Jagadish Kumar Patnaik, Vice-Chancellor, Nagaland University, said, 'It gives me immense pleasure to announce the launch of the Master of Arts programme in Language and Culture by the Centre for Naga Tribal Language Studies, Nagaland University. This marks a historic milestone as the first interdisciplinary master's degree of its kind introduced by our university. The programme is a timely and significant initiative aimed at preserving, promoting, and advancing the rich linguistic and cultural heritage of the Naga people. It reflects Nagaland University's continued commitment to academic excellence, inclusivity, and the advancement of indigenous knowledge systems.' Being offered by the Centre for Naga Tribal Language Studies, the course is designed as a four-semester interdisciplinary programme incorporating the core perspectives from various schools of thought underpinning the study of language and culture. By employing such a multifaceted, interdisciplinary lens, the course breaks away from the traditional modes of working in silos to implement a more holistic understanding. Further, Dr. Yanbeni Yanthan, Assistant Professor, Centre for Naga Tribal Language Studies, Nagaland University, said, 'The course aims to remain relevant to meet the growing challenges of the 21st century, especially in terms of social impact, contribution to policy-making at the grassroots level, and tackling sensitive issues such as cultural heritage, language revitalisation, language policy, as well as tackling poetics and practices of lesser-studied indigenous cultures. ' In terms of career opportunities, the programme will equip students for a wide range of career paths, both traditional and emerging, including research, teaching, digital archiving, consultancy, development sector professionals, language planning, and policy analysts. With an MA in such an interdisciplinary field, one steps into a future where knowledge doesn't reside simply in books but breathes life into a community's policies and heritage, particularly important for tribal, lesser-documented, and lesser-known languages and cultures. The programme reflects Nagaland University's continued commitment to academic excellence, inclusivity, and the advancement of indigenous knowledge systems. Such a holistic and multidisciplinary approach in education is crucial for developing well-rounded individuals, especially in the challenge to meet the emerging issues of our times to ensure a productive and satisfying life.
New Indian Express
16 hours ago
- New Indian Express
DU sees higher female admissions than male since CUET rollout: Data
NEW DELHI: Since the introduction of the Common University Entrance Test (CUET) in 2022, Delhi University (DU) has consistently admitted more female students than male students to its undergraduate programmes, government data reveals. For the academic years 2022–23, 2023–24, and 2024–25, the number of women admitted stood at 34,010, 36,126, and 39,242, respectively. In comparison, male admissions during the same years were 30,662, 32,425, and 33,124. Responding to a question in Parliament on whether CUET has negatively impacted the enrolment of girl students—especially from remote areas—the Ministry of Education stated that the trend has, in fact, been the opposite. Minister of State for Education Dr Sukanta Majumdar said the number of female candidates appearing for CUET (UG) has steadily increased: from 4.29 lakh in 2022–23 to 5.13 lakh in 2023–24, and to 5.94 lakh in 2024–25. CUET, introduced under the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020, aims to ease the admission process and provide a common platform for students across the country. From 90 participating institutions in its first year, CUET is now accepted by 240 universities, including Central, State, Deemed, and Private institutions. The growth in female enrolment is not limited to DU alone. According to the All India Survey on Higher Education (AISHE), the number of girls enrolled in undergraduate programmes in Delhi-NCR rose from 4.09 lakh in 2020–21 to 4.91 lakh in 2022–23. The data appears to counter concerns that CUET might pose a barrier for female students, particularly those from underprivileged backgrounds, and instead indicates that the standardised admission format may have enhanced access to higher education. This year's DU data continues the trend. In the first round of undergraduate admissions for 2025, 62,565 students confirmed their seats—34,014 of them female and 28,551 male. Among the confirmed admissions are 949 single girl children and 143 orphan candidates, including 77 girls and 66 boys. The admissions were conducted through the Common Seat Allocation System (CSAS) based on CUET UG 2025 scores. DU officials said 16,126 students have frozen their seats, while 43,741 have opted for an upgrade.
