To tackle the prevailing learning crisis in primary schools, Meghalaya has adopted the Vidya Pravesh programme, aligning with the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020.
According to State Early Childhood Care & Education Coordinator, Singje Ch Marak, the NEP has pointed out that a large proportion of children currently studying in primary schools are under learning crisis especially in terms of foundational literacy due to lack of universal access to early childhood care and education.
Marak pointed out that the Vidya Pravesh initiative draws from Indian and global research, including reports such as the Annual Status of Education and the National Achievement Survey (NAS) report.
The policy advocates for a continuum of learning from preschool to early primary grades, specifically focusing on the foundational stage from ages three to eight. The policy aims for universal provisioning of quality early childhood development, care, and education by 2030.
Marak said that to address the learning crisis, the policy recommends a school readiness program, known as Balvatika, for children entering grade one. The National Council of Educational Research and Training (NCERT) developed Vidya Pravesh, a three-month play-based school preparatory module for first graders.
Marak highlighted that the Vidya Pravesh program is designed to enhance cognitive, affective, and psychomotor abilities, along with early literacy and numeracy skills.
“Meghalaya has taken the lead in implementing this module, translating it into local languages – Khasi and Garo, and providing training to teachers,” the coordinator said.
The programme spans three months, with classes held five days a week for four hours each day, exclusively for first graders. The initiative aims to ensure that schools, families, and children are all ready for the educational journey. Schools are expected to provide a warm, safe, and stimulating environment, while families are encouraged to be supportive and joyful in their children’s education.
“We have skills that they (children) can develop in terms of social, emotional and psychomotor domains of development,” Marak said.
The Vidya Pravesh module comprises three parts: transaction guidelines for teachers and stakeholders, worksheets for implementation, and learning outcomes with key competencies and assessment details. The program also includes stories for children and daily/weekly schedules to guide teachers through the implementation process.
