Early Childhood Care and Education: An Explorative Study in Kerala and Karnataka.

Abstract

This study explores the Early Childhood Care and Education landscape in both Kerala and Karnataka from a policy angle. The objective of this study is to study the implication of the recently formulated National Early Childhood Care and Education Policy, 2013 and that of National Early Childhood Care and Education Curriculum Framework, 2014 on the policy and curriculum developments in both the states. The rationale for this study was derived from the current status of Early Childhood Care and Education in the country. Anecdotal pieces of evidence suggested that often children are subjected to conditions not appropriate to their age in various care homes and this has been largely attributed to the unregulated nature of the sector. The current discourse emphasises the significance of the development of children at a very young age and the impact this has on the later stages of a child’s life. In spite of growing awareness in this regard, there is evidently some glaring gaps between theory and practice on the ground. The study envisages a comparative analysis of ECCE in the states of Kerala and Karnataka through analysis of the policy developments in the States, the curricula employed in Anganwadi Centres and institutional capacity of State functionaries.