Essential Guide to Organizations in Indian Early Education
Early education in India is a booming business of late. But have you ever wondered what keeps the gears grinding?
This sector in India is delicate network of government bodies and regulatory bodies making and enforcing the law. The many private schools and NGOs also play a big role. Along with them are organizations offering after school activities and tuition. Put together, they form the core of the country’s early childhood care and education (ECCE) system.
A Glance at Education in India
India has roughly 1.5 million schools, 38,000 colleges, and 760 universities as per MHRD. This translates into 1 school per 200 school-goers and 1 college per 3,700 college-goers.Valued at $100 billion in 2016, the market is expected to almost double by 2020 to $180 billion. The K-12 segment comprises 52% of this and offers the biggest opportunities for growth and digital learning.
There are 4 levels of school in India — preschool, primary, middle and secondary. Preschool is not compulsory and is rarely provided to the majority of children. But interest in this sector is up, especially since the ECCE Policy (2013) was introduced. Schools at each level are further divided into private schools and government schools. Private schools charge varying amounts of money, and government schools are near-free.
These schools are further divided into Indian and International Boards. Indian Boards, such as State Boards and CBSE are offered in private and government schools. International Boards are offered in private schools.
Stakeholders in Indian Early Education
There are many parties that are interested in this field. The government makes the laws while regulatory bodies enforce them. Private parties as well as public institutes (in the form of NGOs) are also involved.
Government
Ministry of Human Resource Development (MHRD)
The Ministry of Education was created in 1947 after independence. In September 1985, it was renamed to the Ministry of Human Resource Development. The MHRD deals with both school and university education. Primary, secondary and higher secondary education are overseen by the Department of School Education and Literacy (DSEL). Its headquarter is in New Delhi. The current Minister is Prakash Javadekar (at the time of writing this article).
Functions:
- Developing the National Policy on Education
- Developing and improving quality of educational institutions throughout the country,
- Focusing on inclusion of groups like the poor, females and the minorities
- Providing financial help in the form of scholarships, loan subsidy, etc.
Role in ECCE:
The MHRD helps in the development of education in the country to fulfill the Right to Education (RTE) Act. The Act states that education is compulsory for ages 6–14. However, the government is also starting to focus on pre-primary education. The MHRD plays a key role in increasing access to preschool education.
Ministry of Women and Child Development (MWCD)
The Department of Women and Child Development was created in 1985 and operated under the MHRD. It was given the status of Ministry in 2006. It deals with rules and regulations related to women and child development. Its current headquarter is in Delhi. The current Minister is Maneka Gandhi (at the time of writing this article).
Functions:
- Ensuring welfare of women and children
- Creating support services for women and children
- Giving training for employment and income generation
- Giving training for gender sensitization
- Making sure children have enough nutrition, get their vaccines and have access to preschool education
Role in ECCE:
The ECCE Policy (2013) provides services for children from 0 to 6 years and is the direct responsibility of the MWCD. The policy focuses on integrating early childhood education with the RTE Act. It covers all early childhood care and education programs and related services. These include anganwadis, crechés, preschools, playschools, and nurseries. The Ministry also created a National Curriculum Framework for ECCE.
The National Commission for the Protection of Child Rights (NCPCR) was also created by the MWCD. This commission looks into complaints made by parents at all school levels, including at the preschool level.
Regulatory/Semi-Regulatory Bodies
National Commission for the Protection of Child Rights (NCPCR)
The NCPCR is a governmental commission that works under the MWCD. It was created in 2005 and began work in 2007. This commission researches child rights and looks into violations. Its headquarter is in Delhi. The chairperson is Stuti Narain Kacker (at the time of writing this article). Every State Commission for the Protection of Child Rights (SCPCR) is under the NCPCR.
Functions:
- Making sure laws and policies are in line with the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child and the Indian Constitution
- Making sure that children are seen as individuals
- Researching child labour
- Ensuring children’s access to education
- Researching physical, mental and sexual harassment of children
- Looking into complaints made by parents
Role in ECCE:
The NCPCR created a set of guidelines for schools based on the ECCE Policy (2013). It is responsible for making sure the rights of children are not violated. Complaints made by parents at the ECCE level can also be taken to the SCPCR (State Commission for the Protection of Child Rights) or NCPCR if local authorities do not help.
For-profit Schools
There are currently many private schools in India offering quality early childhood education. These schools may be standalone but are most often franchises. Some schools have been started in India while others are international chains that have opened branches here.
National
Podar Jumbo Kids
The Podar Education Network was started in 1927 by Sheth Anandilal Podar. Podar Jumbo Kids, under the Network, was started in 2000. It has over 260 branches across India and is headquartered in Mumbai. The current Director at the time of writing this article is Ms. Swati Popat Vats.
Podar Jumbo is divided into daycare centres, preschools and kindergarten.
- Daycare Centres: The daycare center works as a creché for working parents. It helps younger kids learn numbers, letters, and concepts. They also have a creative corner and a studio to help them develop motor control.
- Early Years: Divided into playgroup (2 years) and nursery (3 years), this program is provides activities that help in the child’s early development. It focuses on improving communication and language.
- Kindergarten: This program is divided into junior (4 years) and senior (5 years) kindergarten. It helps them develop problem solving skills and lets them have hands-on experience. It has elements of math, science and language.
Kangaroo Kids
Kangaroo Kids was was started in 2000 by Lina Ashar. It has over 100 branches across India and is headquartered in Mumbai. The current Director at the time of writing this article is Ms. Lina Ashar.
The preschool section uses technology such as iPads, whiteboards etc. to teach kids. They divide learning into 4 areas:
- Language/Literacy Development: This area teaches kids to communicate and enjoy stories and poems. Children are taught to converse, ask questions, write and read.
- Cognitive Development: This area teaches kids math and science through numerous activities. Experiments, building models, etc. are encouraged.
- Physical Development: Kids engage in activities such as threading beads, puzzles, sorting, etc. to improve fine motor control. Sports and activities are taught to develop hand-eye co-ordination and balance. These also teach teamwork and thinking skills.
- Creative Development: Art is used to help kids express themselves visually. They are also given instruments and dance classes to help develop interests in performing.
International
Safari Kids
Safari Kids International was founded in Newark, California in the United States in 2005. The founder, Shadokth Mudakavi, serves as the CEO at the time of writing this article. It started in India in 2016 and has between 5–10 branches in the country. It is headquartered in the United States.
Its program is divided into sections by age:
- Early Explorers: Serving as a daycare for ages 4–15 months, children are encouraged to play and explore here. Some activities for this age group are Sand and water play, Art using different textures, Songs, Poems, Creative play, and Circle/group time
- Turbo Toddlers: This program is for kids from age 15 months to years. Some of the activities used in this are Art, Drama, Music, Swimming, and Languages
- Levels 1–4: This program is for children from ages 2–6. It teaches the following:
- Reading and Writing — sounds and letters are taught, as well as basic sentence construction
- Math — counting, mental math etc. are taught
- Public speaking — taught by making presentations and participation in school plays
- Science and Tech — Games and apps are used to teach, as well as Lego WeDo robotic kits
Non-profit Schools/Organizations
India has several organizations that provide education for kids from underprivileged backgrounds. These organizations are usually charitable and supported by donations/funds.
Indian
Pratham
Pratham was started in 1995 as a Public Charitable Trust by the Commissioner of the Municipal Corporation of Greater Mumbai, UNICEF and others. It started as a way to provide preschool education to children in slums. It has now expanded to 21 states and several countries. The current CEO is Rukmini Banerji.
Some of the programs started by this NGO are:
- Balwadi (pre-school) programs — started to provide preschool education in the slums of Mumbai, this model has been copied all over India
- Balsakhi (bridge) programs — these programs help out kids who may be lagging behind and are at risk of dropping out
- Read India Campaign — a program to improve reading, writing and arithmetic skills in kids from ages 6–14 years
Akanksha Foundation
The Akanksha Foundation was started in 1990 by Shaheen Mistri. Its aim was to deliver a high quality education to every child no matter their background. They now have 60+ after school centres with teachers, volunteers and social workers. Their ‘School Project’ model, made for reform in education, is now in 20 schools across India. They have also expanded internationally. Their headquarter is in Mumbai.
Some of the programs started by them are:
- Digital Literacy — providing 3rd — 8th grade classrooms with tablets to let them access new types of learning
- Buckle Up and Read — a program to encourage reading among primary school students
- Art for Akanksha — a program to provide kids with an art education
- Sports Programs — a program to encourage kids to play sports such as football, hockey etc. If students show talent, they may join the Akanksha teams.
- Parent Literacy — a program to help parents learn English so that they can help their kids at home
International
Room to Read
Books for Nepal was started in 1998 by John Wood. Along with Erin Ganju, he expanded it to Vietnam in 2000 and thus created Room to Read. It focuses on literacy and gender equality in education. They have expanded to over 9 countries in Asia and Africa. They are headquartered in San Francisco, USA. Dr. Geetha Murali is the CEO at the time of writing this article.
They operate two major programs, both of which have shown great success in India:
- The Literacy Program: Room to Read provides quality reading material and teacher training to improve literacy. The books are customized to the country. Teachers are also trained to run libraries and encourage reading. They also help to improve the environment so that kids can learn better.
- The Girls’ Education Program: This program ensures girls complete secondary school and can make key life decisions. It works with girls to help them stay in school and develop life skills. It also helps to increase support for girls’ education among parents and communities.
Save the Children
Eglantyne Jeb first started Save the Children in 1919 to to feed children after World War I. It is now a global organization that works for child rights in over 120 countries. The current CEO at the time of writing this article is Helle Thorning-Schmidt. It came to India in 2008 under the name ‘Bal Raksha Bharat.’
They work in the following areas:
- Health and Nutrition — They work to ensure child survival, newborn health, maternal health and nutrition of both mother and child.
- Education — They work with local communities to ensure that children are sent to and stay in school.
- Child Protection — They help children who are pushed into child labour or are abused
- Emergency Situations — They help kids in times of natural disasters or emergencies by providing relief
Parallel Education
There are several organizations and franchises that aid kids outside of formal education. They might tutor children, train them in arts or teach hobbies/skills.
Hobbies:
Bricks4Kidz
Bricks4Kidz was started by Michelle Cote in 2008 in the USA. They use LEGO Bricks to create a fun way to learn after school, and also have programs for coding and robotics. They have expanded since to about 50 countries around the world. The current CEO is Brian Pappas at the time of writing this article. Its headquarter is in Florida, USA.
They offer several programs in India:
- After-School Programs: This program uses 4 week sessions with different themes for building such as Space, Inventions etc.
- Preschool Classes: These help children at the preschool level gain hands on experience with the concepts of building and play.
- Summer Camps: During vacations, kids can take these classes centred around themes such as Amusement Parks, Animals, etc. They also have challenges and games.
The Little Gym
The Little Gym was founded by Robin Wes in 1976. It provides fitness gyms made for younger kids, which abide by strict guidelines. They are now present in about 29 countries. They are headquartered in Arizona, USA. The current CEO is Alex Bingham at the time of writing this article. In India, the Little Gym offers programs across several sports:
- Gymnastics: These classes are divided by age, with 3–6 years and 6–12 years being the categories. Kids are taught age appropriate moves in gymnastics.
- Sports Skills: For ages 3–6 years, this program focuses on team sports, helping kids cultivate teamwork and coordination.
- Karate: For ages 4–12 years, this program teaches the basic karate blocks, kicks and punches. It also helps to teach discipline.
- Dance: For ages 3–12 years, this teaches kids ballet, hip-hop and tap techniques. It helps them develop grace and good posture.
Tutoring
Eye Level Learning Centre
Eye Level was founded in 1976 by Dr. Young Joong Kang, who serves as the Chairman at the time of writing this article. The centers tutor children primarily in English and Math through special techniques. Centers are present in about 25 countries around the world. Their headquarter is in South Korea.
Their programs include:
- Math — This focuses on Basic Thinking Math, i.e arithmetic, and Critical Thinking Math, i.e geometry, problem solving, etc.
- English — They cover Reading, Writing, Speaking and Listening. They use active listening, phonics and writing prompts in teaching.
Kumon Math and Reading Centre
The first Kumon Math Centre was founded in 1958 by Toru Kumon. Their primary focus is to tutor students outside school in Math and Reading through techniques developed by the founder. Their headquarter is in Tokyo, Japan, while centers are present in around 50 countries. Hidenori Ikegami is the President at the time of writing this article.
The programs focus on two areas:
- Math — Math is taught in different programs numbered by letters. The program starts with basics such as counting and continues to advanced material at the highest level.
- Reading — Made to help students develop reading comprehension, this program is also numbered by letters.It starts with basic letter sounds and advances to literature and interpretation.
Conclusion
Did you notice the number of women leaders who are shaping the early education space in India? But these are a small sample of the many organizations and people making a difference to ECCE. The field is still full of opportunities. As the education field continues to grow, more parents are becoming aware of the value of early education.
If you’re interested in early childhood education, you may look into joining a branch of the government that deals with the same. NGOs in the field are also helpful and have aided many young kids. If official work does not appeal to you, you can also work in as a preschool teacher or caregiver. You even start your own franchise or start-up — and perhaps end up on a list like this someday!
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