Task force teams set up to conduct inspection
Padmavati Prabhu
Panaji: With the Directorate of Education (DoE) initiating the process to regulate pre-primary schools in the state, over 600 educational institutions have applied for registration of their pre-primary schools on the online portal Gurukul Vishwa.
The institutions that have applied for registration include those already operating pre-primary schools apart from those that are interested in starting new pre-primary schools from the academic year 2024-25.
“There were many pre-primary schools in Goa and they were not regulated by the DoE till 2022-23. Following the decision to implement the National Education Policy (NEP)-2020, they have been asked to register with the DoE,” said an official of department of education.
The online portal Gurukul Vishwa has been designed by Goa Electronics Limited (GEL) for DoE. “As of now, 619 educational institutions have applied on the portal,” said the official.
He said taluka-level task force teams have been constituted under the Assistant District Education Inspectors to conduct an inspection of these schools and submit a feasibility report. During the inspection, the officials will visit the premises and check for the building, number of teachers and students, infrastructure etc.
“Once feasibility reports are received from all ADEIs, the picture will be clear on how many schools are eligible. The schools that are already running in the state and fulfill all the requirements will be granted permission. Those already running will be granted permission on the condition that they fulfill the necessary requirements within a particular time period. However, a decision on the institutions that have applied for registration to start a new pre-primary school from the coming academic year will be taken by the DoE after the feasibility report is received,” said the official.
He also said that nearly 2,300 teachers have been trained at the pre-primary level as per the curriculum prepared by the National Council for Educational Research and Training (NCERT).
It may be noted that the DoE had in May 2023 issued a circular asking all pre-primary schools to register with it.
The National Education Policy (NEP) 2020 envisages modification of the existing school education structure in alignment with the new pedagogical and curricular restructuring, patterned on a 5+3+3+4 structure, covering children/students in the age-group of 3-18 years.
“Currently, children in the age group of 3-6 are not covered in the existing 10+2 structure, as Class 1 begins at age 6. In the new proposed 5+3+3+4 structure, a strong base of Early Childhood Care and Education (ECCE) from age 3 is also included, aimed at promoting better overall learning, development and well-being of these learners,” states a DoE circular.
“Bearing this in mind, the DoE intends to streamline the process of registration of nursery schools under NEP 2020 in the state. Accordingly, it is directed that all pre-primary/anganwadis/balwadis and
nursery/play-way/kindergarten schools/ crèche etc operating in the state apply for opening/continuation of their pre-school under NEP 2020 with the DoE without fail,” states the circular.
Over 21% of the government primary schools in Goa have managed to start pre-primary sections in their schools. Presently, there are 708 government primary schools in the state of which 149 have a pre-primary section.
‘Ensure admission age for Class 1 is 6’
New Delhi: The Centre has issued a notice to all states and Union territories to fix six years as the minimum age for admission to Class 1, in line with the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020 and the Right of Children to Free and Compulsory Education (RTE) Act, 2009.
In a letter to the state governments and the Union territory administrations, the Ministry of Education’s Department of School Education and Literacy has reiterated its directions issued several times.
The directions have been issued several times since the NEP was launched in 2020. A similar notice was issued last year too.
In the letter, the ministry of education secretary said, “I would like to invite your kind attention to this Department’s DO letter No. 9-2/20- IS-3 dated 31.03.2021 followed by DO letter of even number dated February 9, 2023 (copies enclosed), wherein all states/UTs were requested to align the age of admission as per the provision contained in the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020 and Right of Children to Free and Compulsory Education (RTE) Act, 2009 and ensure admission to Grade-I at the age of 6+ year.”