PANJIM: The State government has instructed all the pre-primary schools including nursery and play schools running across the State to get a mandatory recognition from the government for its functioning as part of National Education Policy (NEP). As of now, no such recognition was needed to run any pre-primary or play school in Goa.
Under the guidelines of NEP 2020, the government is going to make the recognition of play or pre-primary schools mandatory. Under this, the accountability of schools will also be fixed for the safety of children and to ensure the entire basic infrastructure including play grounds and toilets are available.
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In a circular issued on Tuesday, Director Education Shailesh Zingade has directed all the pre-primary, Anganwadis, Balwadis and nursery, play schools, Kindergarten school, etc operating in the State to apply for opening or continuation of their pre-schools under NEP 2020 on or before June 15.
Speaking to O Heraldo, Zingde said that currently such schools do not require permission or recognition and that they just register their pre-primary or play schools with the department. “There are so many such schools which are operating from a rented flat with no facilities of play ground. Now under NEP, to have the recognition, all the infrastructure and safety measures will have to be in place,” he said.
The circular stated that NEP 2020 envisages that the existing 10+2 structure in school education be modified in alignment with the new pedagogical and curricular restructuring, patterned on a 5+3+3+4 structure, covering children in the age group of 3-18.
“Currently, children in the age group of 3-6 are not covered in the existing 10+2 structure as Class I begins at age of 6. NEP focus on 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,” the circular stated.
Zingde said that bearing this in mind, the government intends to streamline the process of registration of nursery schools under NEP 2020 in the State.
