Fostering equitable access to quality preschool education in India: challenges and opportunities
Abstract This paper focuses on the provision of center-based preschool education for children ranging in age from 3 to 6 years in India. It estimates access rates to various services and highlights issues related to equitable access to preschool services and the quality of preschool education. While...
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Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.1186/s40723-021-00086-6 |
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doaj-c3caf977b4054e2d8ea68cd2a7bd83492021-08-15T11:07:20ZengSpringerOpenInternational Journal of Child Care and Education Policy2288-67292021-08-0115112210.1186/s40723-021-00086-6Fostering equitable access to quality preschool education in India: challenges and opportunitiesNirmala Rao0Namita Ranganathan1Ravneet Kaur2Rashi Mukhopadhayay3Faculty of Education, The University of Hong KongUniversity of DelhiUniversity of DelhiUniversity of DelhiAbstract This paper focuses on the provision of center-based preschool education for children ranging in age from 3 to 6 years in India. It estimates access rates to various services and highlights issues related to equitable access to preschool services and the quality of preschool education. While India has made great strides in improving access to preschool education, numerous challenges have to be addressed to enhance its quality. The National Educational Policy 2020 and the country’s commitment to meet UN Sustainable Development Goal Target 4.2 by 2030 and ensure that all girls and boys have access to quality pre-primary education provide opportunities to ensure equitable access to quality preschool education. Central to meeting national targets is the enforcement of the National Quality Standards for Early Childhood Care and Education. Further, increased budget allocations to preschool education, prioritizing professional preparation of the early childhood work force and harnessing technology to monitor government programs have considerable potential to enhance the early childhood system.https://doi.org/10.1186/s40723-021-00086-6IndiaPreschool educationAccessEquityQuality |
collection |
DOAJ |
language |
English |
format |
Article |
sources |
DOAJ |
author |
Nirmala Rao Namita Ranganathan Ravneet Kaur Rashi Mukhopadhayay |
spellingShingle |
Nirmala Rao Namita Ranganathan Ravneet Kaur Rashi Mukhopadhayay Fostering equitable access to quality preschool education in India: challenges and opportunities International Journal of Child Care and Education Policy India Preschool education Access Equity Quality |
author_facet |
Nirmala Rao Namita Ranganathan Ravneet Kaur Rashi Mukhopadhayay |
author_sort |
Nirmala Rao |
title |
Fostering equitable access to quality preschool education in India: challenges and opportunities |
title_short |
Fostering equitable access to quality preschool education in India: challenges and opportunities |
title_full |
Fostering equitable access to quality preschool education in India: challenges and opportunities |
title_fullStr |
Fostering equitable access to quality preschool education in India: challenges and opportunities |
title_full_unstemmed |
Fostering equitable access to quality preschool education in India: challenges and opportunities |
title_sort |
fostering equitable access to quality preschool education in india: challenges and opportunities |
publisher |
SpringerOpen |
series |
International Journal of Child Care and Education Policy |
issn |
2288-6729 |
publishDate |
2021-08-01 |
description |
Abstract This paper focuses on the provision of center-based preschool education for children ranging in age from 3 to 6 years in India. It estimates access rates to various services and highlights issues related to equitable access to preschool services and the quality of preschool education. While India has made great strides in improving access to preschool education, numerous challenges have to be addressed to enhance its quality. The National Educational Policy 2020 and the country’s commitment to meet UN Sustainable Development Goal Target 4.2 by 2030 and ensure that all girls and boys have access to quality pre-primary education provide opportunities to ensure equitable access to quality preschool education. Central to meeting national targets is the enforcement of the National Quality Standards for Early Childhood Care and Education. Further, increased budget allocations to preschool education, prioritizing professional preparation of the early childhood work force and harnessing technology to monitor government programs have considerable potential to enhance the early childhood system. |
topic |
India Preschool education Access Equity Quality |
url |
https://doi.org/10.1186/s40723-021-00086-6 |
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