Right to Quality Education

The importance that we as a nation pay to early education is evident from the fact that preschools garner attention only when they are in the news for wrong reasons. An example of this is the recent reports of child abuse in preschools and schools that have elicited all round disgust and horror. Yet after heated television debates and protests for a couple of days these issues quickly recede from public memory till next such horror story hits the headlines.

Rarely are issues related to what happens in classrooms on a daily basis discussed or debated.  We accept schools on second floor in a crowded commercial building, forty children in a classroom or four year olds being made to learn multiplication tables.

We as a nation claim that our children have a right to education. This, however, cannot be limited to right to enrolment and attendance. Our children deserve a Right to Quality Education-education that is interesting, enriching and enabling in institutions that are promise physical safety and emotional security.

Should we as stakeholders-parents, teachers, school promoters- wait for the government to launch a policy or a monitoring authority for this purpose? Or, can we as experts and concerned adults develop a check list for self regulation and monitoring?

Here is a preliminary checklist of what defines a good preschool that has emerged after deliberations with several experts in the domain.

·         Commitment to each child’s safety and security 
·         Adequate physical space to move about and explore
·         Diverse and interesting play material to stimulate all round development
·         Appropriate teacher child ratio
·         Trained and committed teachers
·         Adult child interactions which are nurturing and responsive
·         Intentional and planned curriculum that can be adapted to needs of each child
·         Emphasis on emergent literacy and math skills

·         Balance of Care and Education