Definition:

• Early childhood care and education (ECCE) encompasses nurturing, education, and support provided to children from birth to around six years old, crucial for their holistic development and future success.

Need of ECCE:

• Foundation for Lifelong Learning: ECCE lays the groundwork for future academic success by fostering cognitive, social, emotional, and physical development in children.
• Promotes Equity: Access to quality ECCE can help mitigate disparities by providing all children, regardless of socioeconomic background, with a strong start in life.
• Enhances Social Skills: Early interaction with peers and caregivers in ECCE settings helps children develop essential social skills like cooperation, empathy, and communication.
  • Nobel Laureate Heckman’s Perry Preschool study found that children who received high quality ECCE grew into less violent adults — stronger socio-emotional skills built early might even help prevent later student suicides
• Prepares for School: ECCE programs prepare children for formal schooling by instilling routines, basic literacy and numeracy skills, and a love for learning.
• Supports Economic Development: Investing in ECCE yields long-term economic benefits by producing a skilled workforce, reducing healthcare and social costs, and fostering innovation and productivity.

Measures to improve the quality of ECCE:

• Research and Evidence-Based Policy: Conduct systematic research in the Indian context to understand the impact of ECCE interventions, including the Anganwadi system, on child development outcomes and the macroeconomic implications. Utilise evidence-based findings to inform policy decisions and allocate resources effectively.
• Investment in Infrastructure: Allocate resources towards improving infrastructure in ECCE centres, ensuring they have safe, stimulating, and child-friendly environments conducive to learning and development.
• Teacher Training and Capacity Building: Provide comprehensive training and professional development opportunities for ECCE educators to enhance their skills in child development, teaching methodologies, and classroom management.
• Curriculum Enhancement: Develop and implement a culturally relevant and age-appropriate curriculum that focuses on holistic child development, including cognitive, social, emotional, and physical domains.
• Monitoring and Evaluation: Establish robust monitoring and evaluation mechanisms to assess the quality and effectiveness of ECCE programs, including regular assessments of child outcomes, teacher performance evaluations, and feedback mechanisms for continuous improvement.

The path from developing to developed countries is paved with human development investment, and the earlier it is the better. If we want India’s women to work and India’s children to thrive, investing in ECCE is the way forward.