Formative schooling years, ignored since decades witnessing transformation through PPP initiatives

It is common knowledge that the maximum cognitive development of a child happens between the ages of three to six years. If the education system becomes weak and fails to support a child of this age to acquire social, communicative and literacy skills, then the entire base of the education system of the country is deemed to be paralyzed.

There are major quality-related deficiencies in the existing early childhood learning programmes in India, especially in those delivered through Balwadis and Anganwadis. Lack of focus on learning at the pre-primary level is a major reason for the glaring gaps in the quality and output of early education in India. The committee which formulated the National Education Policy (NEP) also recognised the gaps due to minimal focus on the educational aspects of early childhood education and suggested measures to improve early learning outcomes. The NEP aims to universalize the pre-primary education by 2025 and provide foundational literacy/numeracy for all by 2025.

Maharashtra is a great example of the success of Public-Private Partnerships for uplifting balwadis run by civic bodies. Municipal Corporation for Greater Mumbai (MCGM) has completely transformed 900 Balwadis in Mumbai, operated in collaboration with several non-profit organizations (NGOs). In addition, a similar initiative was launched last year in Nashik with private support been extended by digital transformation in teaching and learning methods. Out of the 140 aanganwadis which are operational in Nashik district, 25 were under the operations of Ampersand Group which has created model centres and have transformed pre-primary segment for many to emulate in the state.

The digital intervention in the aanganwadis has helped develop excellent formative skills among children and brought about qualitative transformation among the students. So much so, that due to these changes, aanganwadis which weren’t looked in a positive way, have experienced high enrolments in the past one year in these 25 centres operated by Ampersand Group. Recent data from roughly 577 balwadis operated by numerous NGOs in Mumbai guided by the Rustomjee Kerawalla Foundation (RKF), suggests an approximate 80% growth rate in student strength from September 2018 to October 2019. Although the focus still remains on the final learning outcome of the student, these numbers are an encouraging trend for the time being.

Rustomjee Kerawalla Foundation, which was allotted 101 balwadis from the above, has leveraged its academic expertise and operational experience in constructing and smoothly running these schools, while also assisting several other NGOs which are involved, thereby achieving a significant tangible improvement in the MCGM balwadis. – By Rustom Kerawalla

(The writer is an Edupreneur and the Chairman of Ampersand Group.)