Uncertainty marks future of Anganwadi centres in Telangana

Uncertainty seems to mark the future of Anganwadi centres in Telangana amid plans of the State government to commence pre-primary – Nursery, LKG and UKG – classes in the government and local body schools. The plan to commence the pre-primary section is likely to be run under the name of Balavatika.

The Education department commenced the exercise for establishing the pre-primary section in the government and local body schools in the State. The department is expected to shortly come up with modalities for running the classes.

For the proposed pre-primary classes in the government schools, the department intends to fill up required teachers via the district selection committee, which is likely to be notified in the next year.”The Chief Minister asked the department to start the pre-primary section in the government and body schools. However, a policy decision is yet to be taken,” a senior official said.

Presently, 35,700 Aganwadi with 31,711 main centres and 3,989 mini centres are functioning in the 149 Integrated Child Development Scheme (ICDS) project under the Women Development and Child Welfare, offering pre-primary education in the State. A total of 6,67,783 children aged between three and six years are enrolled in these



centres.

While government schools admit students at the Class I, the primary schools offer pre-primary education along with primary and upper primary education. Hence, students who join pre-primary in the private school continue in the same school. This is resulting in a drop in government schools enrollment, while the private schools’ admissions are shooting up.

The idea behind commencing pre-primary education in the government schools is to ensure students transition from pre-primary to primary and other levels, thereby increasing the enrollments.

Earlier, it was decided to shift Anganwadi centers to government and local body primary schools as part of enrolling children in Anganwadis in government schools. Presently, 15,167 Anganwadis are running in primary schools.

As the government plans pre-primary classes in the government schools, the fate of Anganwadi centres particularly of the teachers hangs in balance. As there are plans to recruit new teachers for the pre-primary sections in the government schools, there are concerns about existing teachers in the Anganwadis. Clarity on these Anganwadi teachers can be expected after the government comes up with modalities for pre-primary section in the government schools.