Early Childhood Education

Dr. Radhika Kapur

Abstract
Early childhood education is an important area within the lives of the individuals.
This education begins, when the child reaches the age of two. It establishes the foundation
from where the learning of the child takes place. The main purpose of this research paper is to
understand the purpose and significance of early childhood education. Early childhood stage
is crucial, where parents at home and teachers in school are required to pay adequate attention
towards the children. When they are able to impart efficient knowledge to them regarding
academic concepts, play activities, arts and crafts, health, physical exercises, sports, games,
environment, communication, good manners and etiquettes, then they would be able to render
an effective participation towards learning and acquisition of education. In order to lead to
progression of early childhood education, teachers and staff members of the educational
institutions need to possess adequate knowledge, amiable and caring nature and an
approachable attitude. They should take care of needs and requirements of young students
appropriately.

Keywords: Development, Early Childhood Education, Early Childhood Care and

Education, Pre-schools, Skills, Students, Teachers

Introduction
The period of early childhood is until the age of eight years. One of the reasons that
early childhood is regarded up to the age of eight is to enable him or her acquire a smooth
understanding of the entire education from the level of play group to pre-primary and from
pre-primary to the level of primary. The early childhood education is in an organized form to
a major extent. The teachers and the other members of the pre-school, who are involved in
this education are required to be systematic and methodical in their workings and conduct. It
requires efficiency in its format and implication. Within this framework, the term ‘care’ holds
much significance. When imparting any kind of learning, understanding or information to the
students, the teachers need to take into consideration, the aspects of care and thoughtfulness.
In pre-schools, students are young, hence, they need to be taken care in terms of various
aspects, such as, learning, playing, health, emotions, diet, nutrition, and psychoanalysis.
These are important for the overall development of the child.
 The main purpose of early childhood education is to lead to effectual growth and
development of the students. It creates the foundation for learning among the students, so that
they are able to develop their skills and abilities efficiently from the early age. Early
childhood care and education also makes provision of information and knowledge to the
families and communities of the students, with the purpose of contributing towards their
effective growth and development. In pre-schools, learning begins with play, when students
begin to take pleasure in play activities, then at the next level, they are taught drawing and
colouring strategies, which enables them to develop an interest in art. At the next level,
students are taught academic concepts, such as alphabets, numbers etc.

Education is a comprehensive area. It covers skills, knowledge, attitudes, habits,

communication, cognitive skills, intellectual abilities, wisdom, astuteness, righteousness and
honesty. These factors are essential for the development of the mind-set of the students and it
also contributes towards their progression. The students have to be well prepared to enter the
education system at the formal level. In order to seek admission in formal schools, it is vital
for the students to possess adequate understanding of academic concepts, so that they can
appropriately cope up with the teaching-learning methods, provided to them by the teachers
and enhance their performance. Early childhood education renders an effective contribution
in the facilitation of learning and education.

The Significance of Early Childhood Education (ECE)

ECE is considered to be of utmost significance. This is realized by all the members of

the community, irrespective of their backgrounds and occupations. The first three years of the
life of the individual are considered to be crucial. At this stage, the child develops the
connections to lead to advancement. Whether the parents are educated or not, it is vital for
them to possess efficient knowledge, regarding how to implement the functions of growth
and development and recognize the significance of education. When they will be aware of
various strategies in terms of child development, they will be able to render an effectual
contribution. Parents are the ones, who are dedicated and responsible to a major extent for the
operative growth and development of their children. Until the age of three, children are close
to their mothers and depend upon them for implementation of all activities and functions
(Warren, 2007).

When children reach the age of four, they begin to realise that outside their home also
there is a world, which they have to get acquainted with. ECE helps the students to develop
their mental capacity and improve their skills and abilities. The social requirements of an
individual begins to augment as he grows. ECE is significant as it makes provision of
knowledge and information that aims at the overall development of the individual. This area
has bought into existence the works of many theorists, researchers, educationists and
economists. Individuals and organizations, who have developed keen interest and enthusiasm
in this area, have worked towards advancement. The problems relating to economic growth
and productivity have been a matter of concern and ECE is a direct concern, as it renders a
significant contribution towards the development of future citizens (Calman & Whelan,
2005).

Goals of ECE

The goals of ECE have been stated as follows: (Currie, 2001).

Development of the child is considered to be one of the major goals of ECE and it
focuses upon three areas. These include, cognitive skills, school readiness and social and
emotional development. When taking into consideration cognitive skills, it is vital to focus
upon intelligence quotient. Since they are the development of intellectual and thinking skills
and abilities. The individuals have to work towards improvement of their problem solving,
decision making and logical reasoning skills.

In the area of school readiness, emphasis is put upon being physically healthy, well-
nourished, and active in one’s performance. When students are engaged in learning, they
should maintain their health and be energetic and attentive, especially within the classroom
setting. Hence, in pre-schools, there are provision of mid-day meals to provide the needed
energy and nutrition to the students. Socialization is one of the imperative areas that is
focused upon, as one has to develop his language and interactive skills. Students need to be
trained, how to be expressive regarding their needs and requirements.

In the development of social and emotional skills, individuals normally possess

different behavioural traits. These include, being introvert, extrovert, self-centred, isolated,
hesitant and so forth. Students should be taught how to exercise more self-control. Out of
different kinds of behavioural traits, some are considered to be positive, whereas some are
negative. When the students are young, they may depict certain behavioural traits, which may
not be acceptable within the community or school or home, such as screaming or crying,
hence, they should be taught how to remain calm and peaceful even when they are
experiencing difficult situations.
 Improvement of academic learning among students such as, reading, writing,
numeracy, oral communication, thinking skills, logical reasoning, problem solving, decision
making, critical thinking, job task planning and organizing. The students are trained in these
areas from the initial stage, so that they are able to hone these skills, as they get older. When
students are young, they are normally assisted by their parents or teachers or friends, when
they have to make decisions or when they find any concepts difficult. But when they get
enrolled into higher educational institutions, they have to make decisions themselves, hence,
the development of academic learning takes place from the stage of ECE.

The students are made to realize that learning is a lifelong concept and they need to
continue this process throughout their lives. Academic learning is one aspect of learning. The
other aspects include, generation of awareness in terms of values, norms, principles and
standards. These are essential in order to establish effective terms and relationships with
others. Irrespective of the educational qualifications of the individuals, it is essential for them
to be honest, truthful and wise. These traits not only help them in establishing a good social
circle, but also in creating good career opportunities.

Emphasis is put upon usage of technology and research has indicated that students
take pleasure in learning from technology. In pre-schools, normally computers are made use
of and teachers show them pictures of different objects, they are taught how to draw shapes
and colour them and they also watch videos related to learning, which makes learning
pleasurable for them. Students may not at the initial stage, feel comfortable in operating
computers, but when lesson plans are conducted through computers, then they become
acquainted with the use of technology.

Learning cannot take place in isolation, in order to enhance learning and

understanding. It is vital for the students to socialize with not only their family members, but
also teachers, fellow students and other members of the school. Establishing appropriate
terms and relationships with the teachers and fellow students is essential. This can be done by
putting into practice the traits of respect, courtesy and politeness. Teamwork is an important
area that needs to be encouraged among students. In pre-schools, sometimes, students play
mischief and tend to hurt each other, but teachers need to be attentive and prevent them from
getting involved into any kinds of inappropriate acts.

Manners and etiquettes, such as smiling, wishing, when meeting anybody, known to
them, making use of words, such as thank you, please, apologizing, when something wrong
has been done, should be taught to the students. They should possess a sharing nature and
wait for ones turn and lend others a chance first, especially, when they go out to play. They
should possess a pleasant attitude, especially in school and learn how to overcome the
feelings of anger and frustration.

Early Childhood Care and Education (ECCE)

There are three sub-stages of education, from birth to two years, three to five years
and six to eight years. In accordance to various ages, students are part of different educational
institutions. In other words, age is an important factor in enrolment of students in educational
institutions. When a student is pursuing pre-school education, then his development and
growth takes place in an operative manner. At this stage, whatever skills and knowledge the
student grasps or understands is usually known to remain throughout his life. The main
objectives of ECCE are, overall development of the student to enable him or her to realize his
or her maximum potential, preparation for schooling and providing support services for
women and girls.

The main areas that have been emphasized upon are, play as the basis of learning; art
as the basis of education; recognition of the special features of thinking abilities among
students; primacy of experience rather than expertise; experience of familiarity and challenge
in everyday routines; mix of formal and informal interaction; blend of the textual concepts as
well as cultural, the textual concepts should comprise of both basic literacy and numeracy;
use of local materials, such as colours, stationary, arts and knowledge; and developmentally
appropriate practice, flexibility, plurality, health, well-being and healthy habits (NCERT,
2006).

In India, measures and schemes are being formulated to make provision of six goals
in terms of early childhood care and education. The areas that have been taken into account,
include, primary education, gender, youth, adolescents, adult education and quality of
education. In the field of early childhood education, the Dakar Framework of Action is
making an attempt to formulate the goals, which are to be achieved by 2015. Primary
education, literacy goals, gender quality and quality concerns are the areas that will be
covered. The main goals have been stated as follows: (Kaul & Sankar, 2009).

1. The children belonging to deprived, marginalized and socio-economically

backward sections of the society are normally not able to acquire well to do
educational opportunities, hence, it is vital to make provision of opportunities for
 them to improve their learning and secure their future. Financial problems are
regarded as the major barriers within the course of their acquisition of education,
hence measures should be initiated to make provision of financial assistance to
them.
2. It is essential to ensure that the children belonging to deprived, marginalized and
socio-economically backward sections of the society have access to basic
education and that too of good standard.
3. The adults belonging to deprived and marginalized groups are not educated,
hence, in rural areas, there have been establishment of educational institutions and
training centres to help them improve their learning.
4. By 2015, there should be improvement by at least 50% in the education of adults,
with focus put upon women. Steps would also be formulated to make provision
for basic and continuing literacy programs for adults.
5. It is vital to make provision of equal opportunities and not discriminate against
anybody in educational institutions on the basis of factors such as, gender,
religion, ethnicity, caste, creed, race or occupation. The needs and rights of
women need to be taken care of under special consideration and ensuring that they
should obtain good quality education. Educating a woman means educating the
entire nation.
6. In educational institutions, it is vital to provide training to the students regarding
all the subjects. These include, mathematics, science, social science, languages,
nutrition, arts and crafts, physical activities, creative activities, music, dance and
sports. For the overall growth and development of the individuals, it is vital to
enhance their skills and abilities regarding all important areas.

Early Childhood Education Programs

Early childhood education programs have been influenced to a major extent by the

changing social, economic, political and demographic factors. During the past, it was
believed that early years of one’s life, from pre-natal to five years, establishes the basis for
the inculcation of skills and knowledge in one’s life. It is also believed that the child inherits
these skills and knowledge through the family traditions and values. In India, parents play the
most significant part in influencing the growth and development of the child. They enable
him or her to understand, whatever is taught or told to the child. For instance, when the child
is admitted in a pre-school, his parents teach him that he should give respect and be courteous
to people within his school by listening to them, wishing, smiling, making use of terms such
as thank you, please etc. They make the child understand that in school, while playing, they
should wait patiently and give others a chance, be kind to their fellow students and obey the
instructions of the teachers and other members of the school (Kaul & Sankar, 2009).

The students are enrolled in pre-schools for normally two to three years. Within the
course of this time period. They are provided knowledge and information, so that they are
able to enhance their academic performance, when they get enrolled into the formal school.
When enrolment takes place of the student at the age of two, he is provided with playthings
and games, so that he feels comfortable and happy within the school environment. After some
time, students are provided knowledge and information regarding arts and crafts activities,
and then they are taught academic concepts. In pre-schools, there are organization of
competitions, workshops, summer camps, regarding various activities and subjects. The
students are encouraged to participate in these activities and they feel motivated towards
learning. When there are organization of competitions or plays or concerts, then teachers
have to adequately train the students, so that they give their performance in a well-organized
manner.

When academic concepts are taught to the students, it is vital to take into
consideration all the subject areas and not just focus upon alphabets and numbers. The other
subject areas include, science, social science, languages, and mathematics. The teachers need
to put emphasis upon effective teaching-learning methods. Since the students are young, they
may even require reiteration of concepts by the teachers from time to time. The teachers,
when beginning a lesson plan, first provide oral explanation to the students and usually they
are even provided with text-books, so that they are able to understand adequately. After the
students have become familiar with the concepts, they are made to write them. Writing helps
one in remembering the concepts. When the students are unable to write, the teachers usually
provide hand over hand assistance. In pre-schools, usually mid-day meals are provided to the
students to make provision of nutrition and energy and help them concentrate on their studies.
Health and nutrition are important aspects that are focused upon within the pre-school
curriculum.

Curriculum and Instructional Systems

 In the field of ECE, the five curriculum outlines have been stated as follows: (OECD,
2004).

1. Experiential Education – It is referred to as effective learning through well-being and

involvement. In this kind of education, the approach is to make a near step-by-step
approach of what it means to a small child to be and participate in an educational
institution. This education has been used in areas such as, child care, special
education, secondary education, teacher’s training and so forth. It is vital to have
quality and excellence in the system of education. The term is associated with most of
the things, such as, teaching methodology, contents, materials, procedures, utilization
of strategies, and also finding out, whether the desirable objectives are being
achieved. There are numerous concepts and areas that are focused upon in pre-school
curriculum, but it is vital to ensure that these areas possess all the necessary
information.
2. Active Learning – In pre-schools, students are involved in various activities. The main
purpose of these activities is to make learning pleasurable for them. These include,
creative representation, drawing, painting, role plays, arts and crafts, language,
literacy, reading, writing, listening, speaking, in other words, development of
communication skills takes place among the students. Initiative and social relations,
playing, laughing, interacting with others, being sensitive and nice are other concepts
included in active learning. The students are taught singing and dancing skills, as
these contribute in enhancing their personality. Logical reasoning means finding out
the similarities, differences, comparisons, arrangements, interpreting time intervals,
ordering, and description of sequences.
3. The Reggio Emilia Approach – This approach is dedicated to the formation of the
environment that might assist the students to learn and improve their abilities. The
students learn about the interconnection between ideas, environment, and individuals
and begin to realize that outside their home also there is a world, which they have to
get acquainted with. In this approach, emphasis is put upon communicating and
listening to the students. They begin to modify and enrich their own theories by
transforming themselves from one language to another, and getting involved in field
experience. Listening is regarded as one of the most important strategies that improve
learning and understanding among students. The study material is to be organized, on
the basis of the interests and experiences of the students. The family members and the
 community, also have some contribution relating to their interests. Working in a team
and interacting with others is important. Dialogue, discussions, comparisons,
criticisms, negotiating, problem solving and hypothesizing are some of the activities
that are put into practice through teamwork.
4. Te Whariki – The meaning of the term, Te Whariki is a woven mat for all to stand on.
This metaphor is associated with the spider web kind of curriculum for the students.
The subject was progressing in itself, relating with the promotion of values, such as,
diversity, equity and bi-culture. It also included training and reimbursement of the
teachers and staff members that are involved in ECE. These include, parents, teachers,
staff, caregivers, and community members. The curriculum should reflect upon the
holistic development of the students, empowering them, strengthening of the bonds of
the family and community and they need to understand the significance of responsive
and reciprocal relationships. The main factors that would help the students stand well
within the community are, well-being, belonging, contribution, communication and
exploration.
5. The Swedish Curriculum – The learning and understanding that a student acquires in
pre-school tends to remain throughout his life. Pre-school education works in various
areas, such as, development of the mind-set, and teaching him or her certain values,
norms and principles. The student learns to establish him or her in later life, through
the means of pre-school education. Whether the interest lies in reading, artworks,
creative activities, sports, music, languages, science, social science or mathematics.
The area in which the students develop interest, he tends to put emphasis upon it, even
in later life. For instance, if he has interest in art, he may become an artist when he
grows up. Besides, academic concepts and extra-curricular activities, it is important to
acquire awareness of values, norms, principles and ethics. The five goals that have
been developed as part of Swedish curriculum include, norms and values,
development and learning, influencing the students, pre-school and home and co-
ordination between the class, school and leisure time centre.

Issues in Curriculum Development

Key issues in curriculum development have been stated as follows: (OECD, 2004).
1. A direction in which the learning takes place should be based upon values and
norms. The teaching of academic subjects and concepts, should be based upon
ethics, values, standards and principles.
2. In the achievement of goals and objectives, there should be independence. Rules
and policies formulated should be beneficial to the students in bringing about
modifications and transformations.
3. Students should benefit the most from the combination of associative and logico-
analytical thinking.
4. At all levels of education, the goals are mostly the same, but the levels of
complexity are different. There are differences in the teaching-learning methods,
instructional strategies, content, materials, curriculum and evaluation procedures.
5. A continuity of perspectives through ECCE and the school. The educational
institutions and the area of early childhood care and education help in
accomplishment of the academic objectives.
6. The learning of the students should focus upon creating meaning. When the
students are taught a particular aspect, they should make use of it to benefit their
living.
7. The curriculum and the instructional methods should implement modern and
innovative strategies, so that learning can be improved.
8. A quality program should be based upon culture and learning research. The
students should be imparted knowledge of values, norms, principles and standards
through quality programs.
9. The teachers and the staff members should be skilled and experienced. They
should possess efficient knowledge and information regarding their job duties.
10. Play is an imperative concept and individuals need to recognize the relationship
between play and learning.
11. The programs should be open and should provide room for the initiatives and
experiences of the students.
12. The curriculum should get inscribed in a lifelong learning framework with
common learning objectives and approaches.
13. The performance appraisal methods should be made effectual as, they are the key
aspects in bringing about changes and improvements within the overall system of
education.
 14. With the initiation of innovative strategies and methods, it should be ensured that
students benefit and they should not cause any unfavourable effects, especially
concerning their learning.
15. In the formulation of curriculum and instructional systems, it is vital to ensure that
it takes into consideration, care, thoughtfulness and meticulousness.

The most important element is in improving the skills and abilities of the individuals,
so they are able to create a productive future for themselves. The children within the country
should be able to attain good quality education, so they are able to generate awareness and
sustain their living conditions in an adequate manner. Education helps an individual to attain
employment opportunities and effectually carry out their daily routine tasks, which are the
core aspects to earn a living. The children belonging to various categories and backgrounds
should be able to acquire as much education, so that they can create a productive future for
themselves. The children belonging to deprived, marginalized and socio-economically
backward sections of the society, who cannot afford education, should be provided with
scholarships and financial assistance. The provision of scholarships and financial assistance is
usually on the basis of performance of the students, irrespective of the occupations and
financial positions of their parents.

Organizations, Policies and Schemes facilitating ECE

The learning of an individual is regarded as a lifelong process that takes place from
cradle to grave. It has been the objective of various organizations throughout the world that
have focused upon learning and development of the individuals, such as, World Summit
(1990), World Declaration on Education for All and Framework for Action to meet the basic
learning needs. The enhancement of ECE with the involvement of parents, communities and
educational institutions is the main objective of all the organizations. Five main goals have
been framed by the Delhi Declaration and Framework of Action. These are, free and
compulsory primary education, life skills programs, adult learning, eliminating gender
disparities and improvement of the quality of education (WCD, 2007).

The Constitution of India has committed that within the country, free and compulsory
education would be provided to the children up to the age of 14 years. It is the Fundamental
Right of every child to obtain good quality education. Servicing such as, focusing towards
child care have also made provisions for the necessary support for women employed in
unorganized sectors. The child care services will make women more productive and provide
adequate knowledge to them in terms of child development. They will be able to denote
complete co-operation towards the economic and socio-political life. National Plan of Action
was initiated in 1992, concerning children. This plan had the main objective of ensuring the
augmentation of ECCE services. The National Charter on Children was initiated on February
9, 2004 with the motive that early childhood care and education was essential for survival,
growth and development. National Plan of Action for Children (2005) was initiated with the
objective that besides the inclusion of aspects, such as, care, health, nutrition, education and
nourishment. Goals and strategies should be formulated to promote the involvement of
children in educational activities (WCD, 2007).

In rural areas, there have been initiation of schemes to ensure the development and
growth of pre-school students. The scheme of Family and Child Welfare was initiated with
the main objective to ensure the growth and welfare of not only students, but also in
educating and empowering the role of the family in enhancing the lives of students and
bringing about well-being of the community. The main provision of ECE in India is provided
through three different areas, these are public, private and non-governmental (WCD, 2007).

Public programs are government sponsored programs, these are dedicated to a large
extent towards the communities within the rural and other backward areas. There have been
initiation of Integrated Child Development Services (ICDS). This program has the main
objective to lead to advancement in ECE in an integrated manner. This program aims at
meeting the needs and requirements of young children on a continuous basis. There has also
been a proper consideration of what kind of services to provide, which includes, health,
nutrition, nourishment, diet supplement and provision of basic necessities. When children are
able to achieve the requirements of their basic necessities, then they would be able to meet
their goals and objectives (WCD, 2007).

The significance of ECE is recognized in retaining children in primary schools. The

District Primary Education Program (DPEP), made provisions to strengthen the connections
between primary schools. This was implemented through making provisions of the centres to
the primary school premises. The timings of the primary schools have to be organized in such
a manner, which may prove to be suitable to the girls. ICDS service providers must be trained
and should possess complete information regarding those, who are involved with ECE and
are making provisions of play materials to the students (WCD, 2007).
 Private programs that are involved in ECE are fee charging and project making
programs. These institutions are recognized by names, such as, kindergartens, day care,
nurseries, play schools, preparatory schools and pre-primary classes in private, primary,
elementary and secondary schools. It has been assumed approximately that 10 million
children are enrolled in these initiatives (WCD, 2007).

Non-governmental or voluntary organizations are involved in ECE services with the

help that is made available to them through national and international aid agencies, trusts,
denominational and parochial groups. This assistance is primarily considered as financial
assistance. These organizations also get involved in socially and economically backward
areas. There are special communities, who get involved in situations that are difficult to cope
up with, such as tribal communities, natural calamities and disasters or migrant labourers.
NGOs and voluntary organizations get involved in providing assistance to such situations and
the communities (WCD, 2007).

Low income families make an attempt to obtain admission for their child, once he or
she has reached the age of four. When the student is being given admission, then in most
schools, the interviews of the parents are conducted. The purpose of interviews is to identify
the background of the parents and whether the child is capable of securing admission. The
students are usually given an assignment and the admission takes place in accordance to their
performance. On the other hand, in some pre-schools, the admission is on first come, first
served basis and interviews of the parents are conducted. The admission process is intense
and in most cases arouses the feelings of tension, anxiety, stress and pressure within the
mind-sets of both parents and students (WCD, 2007).

The central government has initiated the program of ICDS in 1975. The main purpose
of this program is to make available all the facilities, which are required for the overall
development of children. ICDS is a program, which is efficient and productive in its
workings and achievement of objectives. The quality of services that are provided by this
program are required to get enhanced. In the private sector, there are few institutions that are
engaged in productive work. On the other hand, most of the centres include individuals, who
need to work upon their skills and abilities, required in the effectual performance of job
duties and in attaining job satisfaction (Neugebauer, 2007). In order to perform one’s job
duties well, it is vital for the individuals to be satisfied with their jobs.

Identification of Inadequate Provisions, Gaps and Neglected Areas

 It has been observed that excluding the area of ECE from fundamental right is
depriving many children from obtaining education during their early childhood and this
problem may lead to an increase in school drop-out. There have been implementation of
program of National Policy on Education, 1986. The Program of Action (1992) was
implemented with the purpose of designing the recommendations of NPE. There have been
establishment of certain day-care centres to make provision of primary education to girls,
especially to enable them to learn and free them from the responsibility of taking care of their
younger siblings. When educated, girls can render an effective contribution towards
sustaining the living conditions of their families (WCD, 2007).

While implementing the state specific profiles of ECE, the data on specific indicators
like state specific policy and governance framework, target setting, policies and directives,
stakeholders participation, national and international development partners, monitoring and
evaluation, assessment of the efficiency of ECE, adoption of intervention strategies,
implementing agencies, resource inputs are required in terms of financial infrastructure, and
material programs and services. In both the sectors of the society, urban and rural, there are a
number of individuals, who have not been provided with the opportunity of obtaining
education. Hence, with the establishment of organizations, policies and schemes, provision of
educational opportunities have been made available to them.

In the present existence, in the public sector, ECE has not reached an advanced stage
and improvements need to be made about in this area. The organizations, such as NCERT,
NIEPA and NIPCCD would have to contribute in the formulation of pedagogical,
infrastructural, administrative, staffing and training functions and conceptions of ECE
institutions. All these characteristics can be applied to other areas of ECE, depending upon
the requirements and functions, which various organizations are putting into practice. The
teachers in this field, normally work on honorary basis and the working environmental
conditions are also not in a well-developed state. The minimum wages of the employees and
the working conditions have not been under the formation of the law. Private sector and NGO
workers also undergo similar problems with regards to wages and working environmental
conditions (WCD, 2007).

The teachers and the caregivers normally lacked the essential skills and abilities to
make use of proper knowledge and judgment. The educational institutions also experience
scarcity of finances, which are required to initiate innovative strategies and methods. It is
important for the individuals to be productive and professional in their work, especially in the
education field. These aspects were lacking among the individuals, hence, it is indispensable
to take into consideration these problems under the Eleventh Five Year Plan (WCD, 2007).

There has been initiation and development of various graduate and post-graduate
programs, such as Nursery Teachers Training (NTT) in order to make provision of
knowledge and information to the individuals, who are interested in making a career in this
field. There is a perception among the individuals that pre-school concepts are manageable
and teachers will be able to impart these to the students, without any kind of training. When
working in pre-schools, it is essential for the teachers to possess a caring attitude and an
approachable nature (WCD, 2007).

Regarding the curriculum, there have been formulation of appropriate rules and
procedures in terms of the plans and the curriculum to be developed. There is broad gap
between, what has been communicated or prescribed and what is been practiced or
implemented. The pre-schools in private sectors put emphasis upon the pedagogical aspects.
It is essential to take into consideration the activities, functions and practices to make ECE a
well-developed, systematic, organized, productive and an enjoyable experience (WCD,
2007). The students should take pleasure in coming to school and should not find the school
environmental conditions vulnerable.

In pre-schools, especially in rural areas, improvements are required to be made within

the school environmental conditions. These may be with regards to teaching and learning
materials, technology, provision of clean drinking water, civic amenities, heating and cooling
equipment in accordance to the weather conditions, restrooms and other facilities. These
areas are considered to be imperative in order to facilitate learning. When students seek
admission in pre-schools, parents usually observe the school environmental conditions and
make sure, all the necessary facilities are provided that assist in the acquisition of education.

Curriculum and Assessment Procedures

The term, curriculum is a comprehensive area. It covers various aspects, concepts and
activities that students learn. In the development of the curriculum and assessment
procedures, there are various aspects that need to be taken into consideration. The teachers
should possess complete knowledge regarding the needs and requirements of the students,
they should share ideas and suggestions with each other, possess adequate knowledge and
information of the academic concepts and approaches and possess the traits of diligence,
resourcefulness and conscientiousness. The design and formulation of curriculum and
assessment procedures should be in accordance to the following criteria: (DECE, 1996).

When the teachers have to impart knowledge to the students regarding a particular
lesson plan or a concept, the curriculum have to be in accordance to the standards of quality
and excellence.

The students, who experience various kinds of learning disabilities or health problems
should also be included and there should not be any kind of discriminatory treatment among
them. They should be provided with equal rights and opportunities within schools.

The teaching methodology should be precise and understandable and should be based
on learning and research. The students should be able to appropriately understand, what the
teacher is teaching and the teachers are required to be eloquent in their instructional methods.

In pre-schools, students are young, hence, they are hard to manage. In some cases,
teachers do not take much pleasure in working with young students, as they are required to
pay complete attention. It is vital for the teachers to pay complete attention, adequately focus
and integrate themselves, when they are making provision of skills and knowledge to the
students.

Reliability of the curriculum is based upon the level of interest of the students. In pre-
schools, normally students do not take interest in learning and merely spend their time in
playing and other activities. Therefore, to facilitate learning, teachers need to formulate the
curriculum and the instructional methods in a manner that would motivate the students to
learn.

The methodology has to be precise and adequately formulated. It should also take into
consideration, the needs and requirements of the students. When students have been taught a
particular concept, it should be reiterated, so that it becomes ingrained into their mind-sets.

The main objective of curriculum and assessment is, it should prove to be beneficial
and understandable to the students. The pre-school students, may not render an effective
performance in the first attempt, hence, when improvements are required to be made in their
performance, then teachers should provide personal attention. Personal attention can help in
identifying the inconsistencies and measures can be formulated to make improvements.

Excellence in ECE
 When one is conducting research on excellence in ECE, main focus is put upon the
infant room. Infant room is the place, where infants are kept, they are provided with care and
learning opportunities. Infants learn about themselves and their surroundings on a regular
basis. Observation of the environment is one of the most effectual ways, through which
learning takes place among them. Learning of the individuals begin at the stage of an infant.
As he grows, he develops within himself, new understandings, motivation, interests and
abilities. The lesson plans that are formulated, it should be ensured that they are manageable
and easily understandable by the students. This is essential, as learning takes place in
accordance to their age (Early Childhood Care and Education, 2012). There are four
developmental domains in ECE, which have been stated as follows: (Early Childhood Care
and Education, 2012).

Physical Development – During the initial stage, growth and development takes place
among children in a rapid manner. At the same time, development of large motor skills takes
place such as, crawling, walking and running. Next, there occurs fine motor skills, which is
occurrence of the eye-hand co-ordination at the same time. Physical development is a
comprehensive area, which not only leads to development of fine motor or gross motor skills,
but developments begin to take place within the personality traits. The growth of one’s
height, variations in the body weight, hair and so forth are signs of physical development.

Social Development – Social development takes place within first five years of
growth. It includes, sharing, communicating, interacting with others, etc. In other words, it
means moving out into the social circle. When children reach the age of three or four, they
begin to realize that outside their home also there is a world, which they have to get
acquainted with. Pre-schools are not just meant for learning, but when students get enrolled,
they learn to develop their communicative skills and make friends. Social development is one
of the areas that is of utmost significance. Individuals can make their lives productive by
socializing and effectively communicating with others. It is vital for individuals to socialize
with others, especially with those, belonging to one’s own age group.

Emotional Development – At the early stage of development, students begin to

develop self-esteem and self-confidence. At this stage, students learn how to express their
emotions, such as, fear, anger, sadness, happiness, curiosity, enthusiasm etc. When emotional
development of the individual takes place, then parents at home and teachers in schools
provide information to them regarding negative effects and positive effects of emotions. For
instance, it is inappropriate to get angry over trivial issues, on the other hand, it is appropriate
to remain calm even when experiencing any problems or difficulties. When students are
young, they tend to get angry and depressed over trivial issues, but adults need to guide them
towards the right direction.

Cognitive Development – Cognitive development is referred to as the intellectual

development of the individuals. Through socialization and play activities, young students
make an attempt to learn, what they see around and what they experience. They form their
learnings and understandings in languages, arts, crafts, mathematics, science, social science,
physical activities, and extra-curricular activities. It is believed that brains of young students
are sharp and they are able to grasp things easily. Once a concept has been taught to them,
they are able to ingrain it within their mind-sets and remember it in future. When a test is to
be carried out in class, then it is the responsibility of the parents and teachers to ensure that
their children are well prepared.

Activities and Plans – The activities that are planned for the students need to be
repeated from time to time. For instance, music, singing, dancing, sports, physical activities
need to be put into practice at least once or twice a week, so that the students do not forget
and tend to remember. When students are two years of age, for them, it is essential to repeat
the concepts, as they are young and do not tend to recall, what has been taught earlier. The
main purpose of the educational institutions is to lead to overall growth of the individuals in
all the developmental domains.

Evaluation – Evaluation of the lesson plans is an essential area, required from time to
time. It helps in identifying the inconsistencies that are required to be improved upon. In the
present existence, it is essential to ensure that adequate ideas and viewpoints are part of the
lesson plans, so that not only students are able to enhance their learning, but implementation
of teaching-learning methods also takes place in an appropriate manner. Evaluation also leads
to initiation of innovative and modern strategies and approaches. When evaluation procedures
take place in an adequate manner, then individuals are able to find out, how they can initiate
new approaches, ideas and perspectives to bring about effective growth and development of
the students. The individuals need to possess adequate knowledge and information regarding
the evaluation procedures.

Extra-curricular Activities – Extra-curricular activities are considered important at all

levels of education and not just ECE. These are essential, as they not only enhance the skills
and abilities of the students, but develop creativity among them. They take pleasure in
learning and getting engaged in these activities arouses interest and enthusiasm within their
mind-sets. These activities stimulate the mind-sets of the students. In pre-schools, there have
been initiation of various extra-curricular activities, such as, role plays, water sports, games,
taekwondo, playing of musical instruments, various dance forms etc. In pre-schools, students
usually develop more interest in getting engaged in these activities as compared to learning of
academic concepts.

School Environmental Conditions – It is vital for the school environmental conditions

to possess a peaceful and a serene environment. This is primarily due to establishment of
appropriate terms and relationships between the principals, staff members and the teachers.
They should communicate with each other in a friendly manner and not get involved in any
kinds of conflicting situations or disputes. The students take pleasure in coming to school and
getting engaged in learning, when the school environmental conditions are suitable to their
needs and requirements. On the other hand, teachers too take interest in the performance of
their job duties and incur job satisfaction, when the school environment is apposite.

Child Development Theories

Child development is a process that continues to take place from birth to adulthood. In
the beginning of the 20th century, individuals began to develop their interest in this field.
Within the course of time, individuals began to realize that child development is an
imperative aspect and they should possess adequate knowledge and information, irrespective
of their occupations, categories and backgrounds. There have been development of various
theories in this field, which are termed as grand theories. They focus upon each and every
aspect of development, making use of stage approach. Others are termed as mini theories.
They focus upon the limited part of development, such as cognitive or social growth.

Psychoanalytic Child Development Theories

The theorists, who have rendered an operative contribution to the psychoanalytic child
development theories have been stated as follows: (Cherry, 2012).

Sigmund Freud – The theories of Sigmund Freud primarily focus upon the
significance of functions and experiences that take place during the period of early childhood.
Major focus is put upon mental disorders rather than normal functioning. In accordance to
Freud, child development stages are termed as the series of psychosexual stages. These stages
have been outlined as oral, phallic, latency and genital. It is also essential for the child to
complete the stage. The reason being, incompletion of the stage would lead to fixation that
would influence the personality and behaviour of adults.

Erik Erikson – Erik’s theory encompassed human growth throughout the entire
lifetime of the individuals. He was of the viewpoint that growing and developing means
overcoming the conflicting situations. As an individual grows, he develops within himself
maturity and understanding that situations can be resolved peacefully instead of getting
involved into disputes. The operation of the theory is based upon dealing with conflicting
situations.

Cognitive Child Development Theories

The theorist, who has rendered an operative contribution to the cognitive child
development theories have been stated as follows: (Cherry, 2012).

Jean Piaget – Theorist Jean Piaget was of the viewpoint that children have a different
thinking as compared to adults and he formulated a theory of cognitive development. He
acquired understanding that during the stage of early childhood, it is important to acquire
understanding of the surroundings. The children should not only be communicative with their
parents or other family members, such as siblings, grandparents, or other relatives. But they
are required to possess this viewpoint that socializing with the community members, teachers,
friends, and neighbours is also important. As in order to enrich one’s learning skills and
abilities and for the overall personality development, it is important to communicate with
others, outside the home.

Behavioural Child Development Theories

The theorists, who have rendered an operative contribution to the behavioural child
development theories have been stated as follows: (Cherry, 2012).

Behavioural theories are based upon the fact, how the behaviour of the child is
influenced through interaction with the internal as well as the external environment. The
theorists that have been involved include, John B. Watson, Ivan Pavlov and B.F. Skinner.
These theories are based upon only the behavioural traits that are observed. Development is
looked upon in terms of response to rewards, punishment, stimuli and reinforcements. This
theory is different from the other theories, the reason being, there are experiences, thoughts
and feelings that have not been taken into consideration.
 Social Child Development Theories

The theorists, who have rendered an operative contribution to the social child
development theories have been stated as follows: (Cherry, 2012).

John Bowlly – John Bowlly is of the viewpoint that the relationships formed with the
individuals, who make provision of care to the children, render an imperative contribution
towards child development. These relationships continue to have an impact upon the social
relationships throughout the lives of the individuals. In other words, the individuals, who
provide care are recognized by the child, during the stage of early childhood and he continues
to establish an effective relationship with him throughout his life.

Albert Bandura – Albert Bandura is a psychologist and formed a theory, which is

termed as the social learning theory. In this theory, children learn, understand and generate
awareness of new behavioural traits. This primarily takes place by observing others. Learning
not just takes place by observing external experiences, but it also takes place by internal
factors, such as, sense of pride, satisfaction, gratification, contentment, achievement, and
realization.

Lev Vygotsky – Lev Vygotsky is a psychologist, who formulated the seminal learning
theory. He was of the viewpoint that students are active in their learning and what they
experience contribute a major part in influencing their learning. He formulated the socio-
cultural theory. This theory focuses upon the role of society in influencing the development
of the individuals. The communication that takes place between the individuals, norms,
values and cultures are important aspects. Family members, caregivers, peers and cultures are
responsible for the development of higher order functions.

Other theories of child development and learning have been stated as follows: (Child
Development, n.d.).

Maturationist Theory – Arnold Gessell is the one, who founded the maturationist
theory. Maturationists are of the viewpoint that development is the biological process that
takes place in sequence and in predictable stages over the period of time. Teachers and
families are of the viewpoint that progression and inculcation of knowledge and abilities of
the students will take place, as they grow. When a person grows and develops, he is able to
speak, read, write and hence, improvement takes place in terms of knowledge, skills and
abilities. With growth and development of the individuals in terms of speaking, reading and
writing, students are able to enhance their academic learning.

Environmentalist Theory – Albert Bandura was an environmentalist.

Environmentalists are of the viewpoint that the child’s learning, behaviour and development
are in accordance to the environmental conditions. Families and educationists are of the
viewpoint that children gain knowledge, learn and understand various aspects in terms of the
environment that they live in. For instance, within the classroom setting, schools and home,
teachers and parents need to create an amiable learning environment. When nurturing of the
child takes place, the environment should be pleasant and agreeable.

Constructivist Theory – This theory was formulated by theorists, Jean Piaget, Maria
Montessori and Lev Vygotsky. Constructivists are of the viewpoint that children are
motivated towards their learning. The important area to encourage learning is, active
interaction between the environment and individuals. These theorists are of the viewpoint,
when children have developed their interactive abilities, then they are well prepared for
school. Learning materials are provided to the children in school as well as at home. When
they find certain concepts difficult to understand, then assistance is obtained from parents and
teachers.

Developmental Milestones

Developmental milestones are referred to as the set of functions, skills or age specific
tasks that most children can perform, when they reach a certain age. Although each milestone
has an age level, which means that development of the individuals takes place as they get
older. As growth and development of the child takes place, he begins to learn more
complicated aspects. He has to work more towards development of his skills, as he gets older.
The important skills and abilities that takes place include: (UMHS, 2012).

Gross Motor – Gross motor skills are the skills, which involve making use of muscles
to sit, stand, walk and run. It is essential to maintain balance and change the positions.

Fine Motor – Fine motor skills are the skills that involve making use of hands to eat,
drink, write, draw, play, dress and other functions.

Language – Listening, speaking, using body language, and communicating with

others is considered essential and is indispensable to make ones living productive.
 Cognitive – These are the thinking skills, which includes, problem solving, judgment,
learning, reasoning, understanding and remembering. These are the development of
intellectual skills and abilities.

Social – Interacting with others, forming amiable relationships, terms and conditions
with known individuals are termed as social skills. An individual cannot live in isolation, in
order to do well in all kinds of tasks and functions, and to achieve the desired goals and
objectives, it is essential for him to develop social skills.

Academic Concepts

Parents are considered to be the first and foremost teachers and family establishes the
foundation from where learning of the child takes place. They provide support,
encouragement and all other facilities to their children that are needed to enrich their
learning. The parents are required to create within the home, an amiable environment, which
may be encouraging to the acquisition of education and overall development of the child. On
the other hand, it is essential on the part of the children to adequately listen and obey what
their parents say. As the child matures, parents give him permission to make his decisions,
make a selection of the field in accordance to his interests and abilities, and even migrate to
other regions or countries in the pursuance of career opportunities. The academic concepts
that are important in ECE have been stated as follows:

The students should be taught the differences between appropriate and inappropriate
and advantageous and disadvantageous aspects. What is appropriate and advantageous should
be encouraged and what is inappropriate and disadvantageous should be eliminated.

They should be trained to look after themselves, and not be entirely dependent upon
their parents for each and everything. They should learn to make wise decisions.

Etiquettes and effective communication skills are essential. Students should be taught,
how to respect their elders, be nice and kind to those, who are younger to them and be
friendly with the ones, belonging to one’s own age group.

Students are taught how to manage finances appropriately and not spend their parent’s
money on items that they do not require.

Healthy diet and nutrition is important for pre-school students. They tend to develop a
liking for sweets, but they should be taught that sweets are to be consumed once in a while
and should be encouraged to consume healthy and nutritious diet, comprising of milk, fruits,
vegetables, cereals etc.

The other concepts that are taught to the students include, information regarding the
environment, vehicles, plants, colours, shapes, alphabets, numbers etc.

In pre-schools, festivals are celebrated, hence, there are organization of competitions

as well as class assignments relating to festivals.

The content, activities, lessons, games and all the other concepts, when learning about
pre-school education are essential. Pre-schools often provide formal learning to the students.
They have lesser number of students in each classroom, which facilitates provision of
personal attention. Pre-school teaching is not everyone’s interest, hence, in order to become a
pre-school teacher, it is essential for the individuals to be patient, kind and approachable. The
curriculum and the instructional systems are governed by certain rules and policies. These
include, the teachers have to be caring towards the students, harsh attitude is not permissible,
at the end of each lesson plan, a test should be conducted in order to determine their learning
abilities and a pleasant and an agreeable learning environment should be created (Education
Corner, 2005).

Pre-school Resources

Different categories of pre-school resources have been stated as follows: (Education

Corner, 2005).

Printable Activities – These are the activities that are performed on paper or
computers. As when soft copies are created on computers, printouts can be obtained. Cutting
and pasting of objects and papers, and colouring activities in accordance to the numbers, as
well as colouring on papers, objects, scribbling and drawing are termed as printable activities.

Ask the Pre-school Teacher – The students usually feel shy and vulnerable within the
school environment. They should be encouraged to put in more confidence in themselves and
interact with the teachers and fellow students. They should ask questions, so that they can
improve their learning.

Facilities and Infrastructure – In pre-schools, there are students, who experience

learning disabilities and other problems, hence, facilities, civic amenities and infrastructure
need to be promoted for these students. The examples include, restrooms, clean drinking
water, hearing aids, furniture, and so forth.

Curriculum – Alphabets, numbers, shapes, colours, art and crafts, games, drawing,
painting, stories, rhymes, poems, thematic units and book reviews are the areas that are part
of pre-school curriculum.

Technology – In the present existence, technology has become an integral part of

education. Not only the teachers and the staff members make use of technology in the
formulation of lesson plans and curriculum and instructional systems, but it is also made use
of in providing instructions and knowledge to the students. Sometimes, it is also made use of
in showing cartoon movies and plays to the students.

Evaluation Procedures – The evaluation procedures usually takes place through

grading the performance of the students in class tests, assignments and participation in
competitions or workshops. When students perform well, they are able to acquire
appreciation from the teachers and they in turn feel satisfied with their instructional methods.
On the other hand, when students, do not perform well and secure good grades, then the
teachers need to make improvements in their teaching-learning methods and encourage
students to concentrate upon their studies.

Activities – There are organization of various activities, which not only enhance
learning but also stimulate the mind-sets of the students. Some of the activities include, finger
plays, snack recipes, art ideas, work-sheets, activity guides and so forth. In most cases, these
are related to arts and crafts. Through the performance of arts and crafts, the students obtain
information regarding the academic concepts.

Interactive Abilities – Normally in pre-schools, students do not develop their

communication skills to a major extent. They either feel vulnerable, keep to themselves or are
playful. The students, who possess an introvert nature, they should be encouraged to
participate in competitions, where they can speak. For instance, competitions relating to
poetry, rhymes, singing, dancing, role playing and so forth. Development of interactive
abilities within a student is considered to be of utmost significance.

Pre-school Themes

It is vital to understand, whether pre-school themes prove to be an operative way of

training pre-school students. A theme is known as an idea or a topic that can be explored by
teachers and students in different manners. For instance, a theme of plants is selected, then
this theme will direct all of the classroom activities for a week or at the most a month. The
teachers may organize lesson plans, assignments, tests, activities based upon plants. The
integration of all the subjects will be around plants. The activities that are initiated in pre-
school themes would include, reading books about plants, learning about the letter P,
discussions in terms of preservation and cleanliness of the environment, singing songs about
plants, learning about the colour green, sorting and counting seeds, planting seeds, observing
their growth, drawing plants, learning how to make plants as part of craft activities and
learning about different kinds of plants (The Pre-school Professor, 2010).

The initiation of pre-school themes are usually focused upon the culture, background,
experiences, norms and environment. The teachers, normally make selection of themes, on
the basis of needs and requirements of the students. For instance, when students are
experiencing any kind of family issue, such as, they get engaged into fights and quarrels with
their siblings, or parents do not devote much time towards their children, as they are working
and so forth, then a theme regarding family is promoted. In a theme of family, emphasis is
put upon kinds of families and the changes that could take place in order to resolve the issues.
When students are taught particular themes and concepts, they should be encouraged to apply
the knowledge in their daily lives. KWLQ is formed from the first day, it stands for, know,
want to know, learned and questions (The Pre-school Professor, 2010).

Teaching and learning through pre-school themes have proven to be operative. The
themes should be encouraging, stimulating and meaningful. Two most common ways,
through which learning takes place among pre-school students is through playing and
interacting with the environment. The teachers give their best in making the themes
interesting and enjoyable to the students. The main purpose of themes is to enable the
students to understand the world around them. It is important to nurture the natural curiosity
and enthusiasm within the students, make provision of the required timings for the students to
learn and create means to develop knowledge and skills among them. Important themes
include, individual himself, alphabets, animals, birds, environment, plants, trees, flowers,
vehicles, families and festivals (The Pre-school Professor, 2010).

Early Childhood Education Standards

Standards are referred to an essential first step for designing of operative pre-school
curriculum, since they represent an agreed upon schedule for the teaching-learning processes.
The Illinois Early Learning Standards are meaningful, the reason being, they take into
account the interconnectedness of emotional social, cognitive, physical development and
learning. Like all the good quality standards, they should be used as the basis for reflective
teachers, as they create learning experiences that build upon knowledge among students. The
main objective of ECE standards is to make known adequate knowledge to the teachers. As
they have to be well acquainted with their lesson plans (Henderson, 2004). The principles that
govern the ECE standards have been stated as follows: (Henderson, 2004).

Development is one aspect that influences other aspects. For example, the
development of language, communicative skills and interactive abilities among the students
enable them to communicate with other individuals around. There is an interconnection
between all developmental aspects.

Irrespective of the status and background of the students, they all possess the traits
and abilities of developmental aspects. Teachers, parents and other caregivers have good
expectations from them.

The rate of growth and development varies among students. Some are sharp minded,
whereas others take time to understand things. There are differences among them in terms of
their natures, attitudes and behavioural traits.

In pre-schools, when they are taught academic concepts, drawing, painting, colouring,
then it is not essential that they would depict efficiency in their performance at the same time
and at the same level. Students usually take time to understand concepts. When colouring
exercises are conducted on a continuous basis, then within the course of four to five classes,
they may show improvement.

The teachers, principals and the other members of the pre-schools, need to possess
adequate knowledge regarding the attributes and procedures that are essential to lead to
effective growth and development of the students. It is vital to ensure that learning proves to
be beneficial to the students, provided they put it into practice in an appropriate manner.

Play is regarded as a concept that is of utmost significance, when growth and

development takes place. During the early childhood stage, students are given playthings in
accordance to their age. As they grow older, they are provided with more innovative games.
Exploring objects within the environmental conditions, within as well as outside the home,
getting involved in various activities and functions and socializing are the main aspects that
have to be encouraged for the students in order to develop an understanding of the
environment.

It is vital for the parents and teachers to develop communications with each other, as
they are involved into learning and progression of the child. They should work in co-
ordination with each other. The parents should be aware of the goals and objectives of pre-
school education, and should understand the motive behind sending their children to pre-
schools. Another aspect that parents should be aware of is the objective behind all the hard-
work and resources that are been put into learning and child development.

Conclusion

ECE is regarded as an imperative area not only in India, but throughout the world. In
India, there have been formulation of policies, measures and schemes that have the main
objective of promoting efficiency, competence and proficiency in this area. In the present
existence, in urban areas, there have been establishment of pre-schools, with modern and
innovative teaching-learning methods, instructional strategies, infrastructure and facilities.
On the other hand, improvements need to be brought about in pre-schools and the educational
systems in rural areas. There have been promotion of policies, procedures and plans by the
government to bring about improvements in this field.

Formulation of theories, themes, standards, concepts, strategies and approaches have

led to progression in this field. In order to bring about improvements, it is vital to acquire an
understanding of the goals and objectives, purpose and significance of ECE. Parents are the
ones, who need to possess sufficient awareness, as they work hard and dedicate themselves
towards growth and development of their children. Parents spend their finances towards
education and in making provision of other needs and requirements. Finally, it can be stated
that children are the future citizens of the country, hence, their effective growth and
development would render an operative contribution towards the progression of not only their
families, but also the societies and nation.
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