80 participants from six districts attend five-day state-level orientation programme on early childhood care and education
Shimla: Strengthening the foundations of school education requires a greater focus on the early years of childhood. With this objective, a five-day state-level orientation programme for Block Elementary Education Officers (BEEOs) was organised in Himachal Pradesh under the PM SHRI scheme, bringing together around 80 participants from six districts to improve the quality of Early Childhood Care and Education (ECCE).
The programme focused on creating engaging, child-friendly and activity-based learning environments in pre-primary classrooms. Participants were sensitised to the importance of the early years in shaping children’s physical, mental, social, emotional and linguistic development, with an emphasis on making learning enjoyable, meaningful and appropriate to each child’s age and abilities.
The orientation also covered key provisions of the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020 and the National Curriculum Framework for the Foundational Stage (NCF-FS). The discussions highlighted the importance of learning through play, exploration, conversation and hands-on experiences rather than relying solely on conventional classroom instruction.
Resource persons demonstrated how stories, poems, songs, pictures, games and interactive activities can help children develop language skills, numeracy, logical thinking and problem-solving abilities. The need to design learning activities according to children’s interests, developmental stages and individual learning pace was also emphasised.
Local environment and learning resources take centre stage
The role of Himvatika in connecting classroom learning with Himachal Pradesh’s natural surroundings was another key focus. Participants were encouraged to use local plants, seasonal changes, nature and familiar objects to create meaningful learning opportunities for young children.
The use of Jadui Pitara, an activity-based learning resource, was also discussed. Toys, puzzles, pictures and other teaching-learning materials can make classroom experiences more interactive and stimulate children’s curiosity, creativity and participation.
The programme underlined the importance of parental and community involvement in strengthening foundational learning. Under Samagra Shiksha’s initiative, Pehli Shikshak–Maa, participants were reminded that a mother is a child’s first teacher. Everyday activities at home, including conversations, storytelling, singing and involving children in routine tasks, can contribute significantly to their early learning and overall development.
Assessment to focus on individual learning needs
The orientation highlighted the need for continuous observation-based assessment to understand children’s progress and identify their learning needs. Teachers were encouraged to assess children through their behaviour, participation in classroom activities and everyday experiences.
The emphasis was on using assessment to improve teaching practices and provide appropriate support to each child, rather than comparing children against one another.
BEEOs to play a greater role in mentoring and monitoring
The programme also highlighted the responsibility of BEEOs in ensuring the effective implementation of pre-primary education initiatives. Regular school visits, academic guidance to teachers, classroom observation and identification of training needs were identified as essential components of strengthening ECCE at the grassroots level.
Participants discussed ways to address challenges faced by teachers and develop action plans to take the learning and recommendations of the orientation programme to their respective educational blocks and schools.
The programme was attended by Ranjana Kumari, Pre-Primary Coordinator at SCERT, and Dalip Verma, ECCE Consultant. Joginder Sharma, Kuldeep Pundir, Kewal Krishna, Jagriti Sharma and Purushottam from the Pratham Education Foundation participated as resource persons.
The initiative aims to strengthen the implementation of pre-primary education across Himachal Pradesh and ensure that children receive a stimulating, supportive and developmentally appropriate learning experience during their foundational years.
