While Education Department's order to start pre-primary classes in schools could mean replacing Anganwadi workers, they ask to be upskilled.
Anganwadi workers staged protest over government starting pre-primary classes in state-run schools at Freedom Park in Bengaluru recently. (Supplied)
Anganwadi workers in Karnataka are up in arms against the government for its decision to start pre-primary education in state-run schools, calling it a blatant duplication of Integrated Children Development Scheme (ICDS). They have also put forth a strong demand to upscale these centres.
The Education Department’s recent order to start pre-primary classes (LKG and UKG) in 1,008 government schools in Kalyana Karnataka and other regions is being strongly opposed by all Anganwadi workers.
“This move duplicates the efforts of the ICDS scheme,” said Varalakshmi, President of the Karnataka State Anganwadi Workers’ Association (KSAWA). Condemning the government move, anganwadi workers staged a protest for two days at Freedom Park in Bengaluru recently.
According to them, this move threatens the very foundation of the ICDS, which has been successfully providing comprehensive services to children aged 3 to 6 years.
As the government pushes forward, the Anganwadi community has been rallying to protect their critical role in early childhood education, demanding that the government reconsider its decision and redirect resources to upscale the existing Anganwadi centres instead.
Following the protest from the Anganwadi workers, Chief Minister Siddaramaiah decided to set up an expert committee for the implementation of Early Childhood Care and Education (ECCE) in Anganwadi centres.
During a recent meeting chaired by the chief minister, significant steps were outlined to integrate ECCE into the Anganwadi centres attached to schools, emphasising collaboration between the Departments of School Education and Women and Child Development (WCD).
Expressing concerns, Varalakshmi told South First, “The Education Department’s recent order to start pre-primary classes in government primary schools is strongly opposed by all Anganwadi workers. This move duplicates the efforts of the ICDS scheme.”
“The Anganwadi centres already provide comprehensive services for children aged 3 to 6 years, including pre-primary education, making the introduction of similar classes in government schools redundant,” she said.
“Moreover, the duplication of services could lead to a decline in attendance at Anganwadi centres, potentially jeopardizing the funding and sustainability. The future of these centres will also be at risk,” she further said.
“The direct cash transfer to parents for Anganwadi beneficiaries, proposed by Niti Aayog, further risks undermining the existing system,” the KSAWA president pointed out.
“The current infrastructure and services provided by Anganwadi centers are deemed sufficient for early childhood education, and there is concern that the new initiative by the Education Department might strain resources and create unnecessary overlaps,” Varalakshmi said.
“The existing shortfall of teachers in government schools and low child attendance are additional challenges that need addressing before implementing new systems in the state-run schools,” she said.
“The ICDS was implemented in 1975 under the National Policy on Children, based on the belief that today’s children are the country’s greatest asset.,” Varalakshmi told South First.
“This scheme primarily targets children under six years of age and pregnant women, aiming to enhance the health and nutritional status of young children. It also seeks to lay a solid foundation for their physical, mental, and social development,” she pointed out.
“The ultimate goals are to reduce child mortality, illness, malnutrition, and school dropout rates, while making effective progress in the implementation of policies and programs to optimize child development,” she said.
“Moreover, the scheme aims to enhance the management capacity of mothers concerning the health and nutritional needs of their children through health and nutrition education,” Varalakshmi said, detailing the functioning at Anganwadi.
On the qualification of Anganwadi teachers, she said, “Initially, the qualifications for Anganwadi employees were minimal, with SSLC being sufficient.”
“However, since 2017, passing SSLC became mandatory for Anganwadi workers, and from 2022, higher qualifications such as PUC, ECCE Diploma, JDC Course, NTT Course, and Diploma in Nutrition Science were required to become a certified Anganwadi worker,” she explained.
“Existing Anganwadi employees have diverse educational backgrounds: SSLC – 38,614, PUC – 15,217, Graduation – 6,363, and Post Graduation – 1,682,” Varalakshmi said.
“Out of 65,931 centres, 47,067 are housed in their own buildings, 1,034 in Panchayat buildings, 2,830 in community halls, 4,931 in school buildings, 12,739 in rented spaces, and 1,137 are in alternative buildings,” she said.
“A total of 29,60,392 children aged between 6 months to 3 years and 15,44,003 children aged between 3 years to 6 years have taken admissions in Anganwadi. The activities for 3 to 6 years will be carried out as per the guidelines of the ICDS,” elaborated Varalakshmi.
The KSAWA has put forth several demands including transfer of all the pre-primary classes (LKG and UKG) to Anganwadi instead of continuing in schools following the government’s announcement to shift pre-primary education in state-run schools.
The association underscored the pivotal role Anganwadi centres play in laying the foundation for children’s education and sought to elevate their operational standards and recognition within the educational system.
One of the key demands is to rename Anganwadi centres to pre-primary education centres, a change that would more accurately reflect their essential function in early education.
Additionally, the association proposed that preference be given to centres where workers possess qualifications higher than PUC and are located on government school campuses.
To maintain and enhance the quality of education, the association stressed the necessity of continuous skill training for Anganwadi workers.
The association urged the government to provide uniforms, bags, and flowers to the children attending these centres. They also requested that arrangements be made to issue transfer certificates to children who complete ECCE, facilitating their seamless transition to higher levels of education.
A significant aspect of their demands includes changing the designation of Anganwadi workers to “Teachers.”
Alongside this, the association advocated for an increase in their honorarium, supplemented by additional payments from the Education Department, akin to the compensation provided to guest teachers.
The association also urged the government to continue increasing access to ECCE within the ICDS.
Furthermore, to allow Anganwadi workers to focus entirely on their educational duties, the association demanded that they be exempted from poll duty. Finally, it also proposed converting the ICDS scheme into a separate directorate.
General Secretary of KSAWA Sunandha pointed out, “Through these comprehensive demands, the KSAWA aims to elevate the status and functioning of Anganwadi Centers.”
“This ensures high-quality early education for children and adequate recognition and compensation for the workers who play a crucial role in this foundational stage of education,” she said.
“As the ICDS stresses to provide pre-primary education at Anganwadi centres, we urge the government to transfer all the pre-primary schools to Women and Child Department instead of coordinating with the Education department,” Sundandha added.
Following the protest, the Chief Minister Siddaramaiah has given an in-principle approval to begin pre-primary in Anganwadi centres and a committee would be set-up to look into the matter.
Minister for Women and Child Development Laxmi Hebbalkar, Minister for Primary and Secondary Education Madhu Bangarappa and other stakeholders participated in the meeting recently chaired under the headship of CM Siddaramaiah at Bengaluru.
In the recent meeting, the discussion centred around the pressing demand for kindergarten education and the necessity to establish an effective ECCE model in schools and Anganwadi centres to ensure children’s readiness for school.
The growing enrolment in private nursery schools highlights the strong demand for LKG and UKG education.
Both the Department of School Education and the Department of WCD were identified as playing crucial roles in this initiative. The importance of ECCE was emphasised, noting that these departments are vital not only in imparting education but also in meeting the nutritional needs of children.
The ICDS will continue to be a foundational program; however, it needs to be promoted and nurtured in a manner that aligns with contemporary needs.
A key focus of the meeting was on developing a collaborative model of agreement between the Department of School Education and the Department of WCD.
By working together more effectively, these departments can ensure the holistic development of children through ECCE, achieving the intended benefits and preparing children adequately for their educational journey.
During the chief minister’s meeting, several crucial steps were outlined to ensure the effective implementation of ECCE classes in Anganwadis attached to schools. It was decided that ECCE classes would be conducted in coordination with Anganwadis located on the premises of primary schools.
Out of the 1008 newly started ECCE schools by the Education Department in the Kalyan Karnataka region, 321 Anganwadi centres situated on primary school premises will be considered for this collaboration.
It was emphasised that Anganwadi workers in these centres should possess a minimum of secondary PUC educational qualification. Therefore, only those Anganwadi workers who have at least studied PUC in schools affiliated with Anganwadis will be considered for conducting ECCE classes.
To prepare them adequately, these qualified Anganwadi workers will receive specialised training for ECCE classes.
The existing Anganwadi buildings will be utilised as LKG centres, while the Anganwadi centres will continue to provide immunisation, vaccination, and nutrition services to children in the UKG room.
In centres that are attached to schools, responsibilities will be shared between the Education and WCD Departments.
The pre-primary learning process in Anganwadi centres will be supervised by headmasters, with overall monitoring being conducted by the WCD officer and the Assistant Child Development Project Officer (ACDPO).
The government also plans to start ECCE (LKG/UKG) classes in Anganwadis not attached to schools, based on a proposal from the WCD Department, initially on a pilot basis.
It was clearly stated that no Anganwadi workers or helpers would be adversely affected, and no Anganwadi centre would be downgraded as a result of these changes.
To ensure that the implementation of ECCE classes is guided by expert advice, a committee of experts will be formed comprising individuals and organisations with expertise in the field of ECCE.
This committee will provide a report with recommendations and guidelines. Until the committee submits its report and the government makes an appropriate decision based on the recommendations, ECCE classes will not be extended beyond the 2786 schools already accredited under various schemes.
On condition of anonymity, an official attached to the Minister for WCD Laxmi Hebbalkar told South First, “It was decided to set up an expert committee on the implementation of ECCE and on the start of pre-primary in Anganwadis during the chief minister’s meeting.”
“After the meeting, the minister flew to Belagavi for personal commitments. The Anganwadi workers union leaders, domain experts, and other stakeholders are likely to be in this committee,” he said.
“The expert committee is yet to be formed and is likely to be set up at the earliest,” added the official.
(Edited by Shauqueen Mizaj)
Jun 30, 2024
Jun 30, 2024
Jun 30, 2024
Jun 30, 2024
Jun 30, 2024
Jun 30, 2024
