Anganwadi centres to be upgraded a la pvt preschools

Plans afoot to provide Rupees 3,000 worth of kit, consisting of work books, conversation charts, lacing board, activity-cum-drawing books, water colours, alphabets in Telugu and English, numbers and story books

Hyderabad: The State government is all set to give tough competition to private play schools upgrading Anganwadi centres. Plans are afoot to elevate education standards in Anganwadi centres on a par with the private preschools in the State. The government has decided to distribute Rs 3,000 worth of preschool kit, comprising workbooks and others, to each centre.

Andhra Maha Sabha State Resource Centres will be given the task of training Anganwadi teachers once in every three months. The Resource Centres will also train teachers how to maintain the preschool assessment report cards.

“The Anganwadi centres have been admitting children in the age group of 3-5. On August 9 all the Anganwadi centres are asked to conduct parent-teachers meeting on Early Childhood Care and Education (ECCE)”said Hyderabad District Welfare for Women, Children, Disabled and Senior Citizen officer G K Sunanda.

“Parents from below the poverty line and middle class families are struggling to pay the fees in the private play schools. Now Anganwadi centres are on a par with private play schools. We have added English medium and actives to enrol more students in our centres.” she added.

Meanwhile, each preschool kit cost Rs 3,000. The government will provide one kit to each centre. This kit consists work books, conversation charts, lacing board, activity-cum-drawing books, water colours, alphabets in Telugu and English, numbers and story sequence cards.

Medical kits are also make available with the necessary first aid at the centres. The government has released the funds for taking up the scheme. There are 914 Anganwadi centres in Hyderabad city.

By Sravanthi Sanam