Quality Education & Development

Comprehensive Early Childhood Development

The Early Childhood Care & Education (ECCE) domain focuses on strengthening the quality of early learning experiences for children aged 3-6 years across Anganwadi Centres. It aims to build structured, developmentally appropriate, play-based learning environments that support holistic growth—cognitive, socio-emotional, language, and physical development. The domain bridges classroom practice, home-based stimulation, and community awareness so that children receive consistent developmental support across all settings.

ECCE works through two complementary interventions: the ECD Fellowship, a cadre of trained young professionals who support AWWs, parents, and local communities through guided demonstrations, home visits, and behaviour change activities; and ECCE Strengthening, where Lady Supervisors and Anganwadi Workers are trained and provided with demonstration centres, structured activity modules, and tools to deliver daily play-based learning sessions.

ECD Fellowship Programme

A trained cadre of young graduates who support Anganwadi Workers, caregivers, and community structures in delivering developmentally appropriate ECCE practices. Fellows are selected from the community and trained through a spiral training model spanning 4 phases over 12 months.

Fellows work across three settings: Centre-based—supporting AWW in daily ECCE routine (Free Play, Name Cards, Calendar/Weather, Rhymes, Reading); Home-based—conducting structured home visits for parental engagement and behaviour change; and Community-based—facilitating sessions at VHND, SHG meetings, ECCE Day, and CBE Day. The Fellowship aims to empower youth as agents of positive change and create responsive future parents. The course is aligned with DGT/NCVT Early Childhood Educator (NSQF-3) certification. Fellows receive ₹3,000 for the first 6 months and ₹5,000 for the next 6 months.

• Spiral training: Theory (1 month) → Practical (2 months) → Assessment per phase
• Centre-based support for daily ECCE routine at AWCs
• Home-based structured visits for parental engagement
• Community-based sessions at VHND, SHG, ECCE Day
• Aligned with DGT/NCVT NSQF-3 certification

ECCE Strengthening — ECE Pilot

An Early Childhood Education pilot implemented in partnership with KALIKE-Tata Trust to demonstrate a high-quality ECE model within the ICDS and Pre-Primary School systems across 2 districts, 15 blocks, and 1,315 AWCs.

The pilot operates through Demo Centre setup (1 per sector, 47 total), Master Trainer Training (4+3+3 days), and AWW/AWH batch training (3+3 days) at demo centres. Performance targets include ≥80% child enrollment, ≥90% AWCs implementing ECCE, ≥80% attendance rate, ≥70% quality score, and ≥90% transition rate from AWC to primary school. District ECCE Committees chaired by the Deputy Commissioner ensure cross-departmental coordination.

• Pilot in Ri-Bhoi & East Garo Hills districts
• 47 Demo Centres (1 per sector) with learning corners and activity stations
• Master Trainer Training by KALIKE/ECD/SWD/DIET
• AWW/AWH batch training at Demo Centres
• ≥90% transition rate target from AWC to primary school

National Curriculum Frameworks

Aligned with Ministry of Women and Child Development frameworks: Navchetana for birth to 3 years providing developmental stimulation guidance, and Aadharshila activity compendium for ages 3 to 6 years with structured play-based learning activities.

Integration with Navchetana and Aadharshila national frameworks ensures that Meghalaya's ECD programs align with government standards and national quality benchmarks. Navchetana's developmental domains and stimulation activities are woven into center and home-based interventions, while Aadharshila's activity compendium provides culturally adaptable resources for ages 3-6. This alignment strengthens coordination with the Ministry of Women and Child Development, enables teachers to understand how local activities contribute to national developmental goals, and facilitates smooth transitions as children progress through early childhood and into primary school. The integration demonstrates commitment to quality standards while maintaining local flexibility and cultural appropriateness.

• Navchetana: National Framework for Early Childhood Stimulation (Birth-3 years)
• Aadharshila: National Curriculum for ECCE (3-6 years)
• Activity Compendium by Ministry of WCD
• Alignment with developmental milestones
• Quality standards compliance

Learning Through Play (Ages 0–3)

Comprehensive early childhood development guidelines combining centre-based, community, and home-based approaches for infants and toddlers, with operational guidelines in English, Khasi, and Garo.

The three-pronged approach recognizes learning in the first three years happens across multiple contexts. ECD at the Centre provides space for peer play, exploration, and structured activities. ECD at Community brings neighbours together for informal play groups and peer learning. ECD at Home supports parents and caregivers with simple, evidence-based play activities using locally available materials. By supporting learning across all three contexts with developmentally aligned content, children benefit from integrated, continuous learning experiences.

• ECD at Centre guidelines in 3 languages
• ECD at Community engagement programs
• ECD at Home parent support resources
• Play-based development for 0-3 years