The new curriculum framework, titled Aadharshila, is designed for children aged three to six years attending anganwadis across India. It aligns with the National Education Policy 2020 and is intended to enhance early childhood education.
‘Aadharshila’ translates to ‘foundation stone’ in English. It symbolizes the foundational learning and development that the curriculum aims to provide to young children in their early educational years.
The Aadharshila curriculum spans 48 weeks and includes a variety of activities designed to foster development in areas such as literacy, numeracy, social skills, and psychosocial adaptation. The curriculum starts with four weeks of initiation followed by 36 weeks of exploratory and interactive activities, and concludes with eight weeks of reinforcement and assessment.
There are approximately 14 lakh anganwadis in India. These centers serve as primary hubs in villages for the health and nutrition of pregnant mothers and children, and they are increasingly utilized for preschool education.
The Aadharshila curriculum was introduced to address concerns about children progressing in school without acquiring fundamental literacy and numeracy skills. It aims to ensure that children are better prepared academically and psychosocially for primary education.
According to research cited in the curriculum development, children who receive early childhood education are more likely to excel academically and adapt better socially than their peers who do not receive such education. The study followed 42,000 Indian children and noted significant benefits in those who had early education.
The Aadharshila framework serves as a base for states to develop their own culturally appropriate curriculums. This approach allows for the incorporation of local traditions, languages, and pedagogical methods, addressing regional educational needs and challenges effectively.
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