Cabinet may clear policy to regulate creches, playschools

In a bid to regulate the quality of care and education being provided to children at playschools, crèches and day care centres across the country, the cabinet is likely to approve the draft of National Early Childhood Care & Education (NECCE) policy this week.

In a bid to regulate the quality of care and education being provided to children at playschools, crèches and day care centres across the country, the cabinet is likely to approve the draft of National Early Childhood Care & Education (NECCE) policy this week.

Piloted by the Women & Child Development ministry, the policy aims to make registration and accreditation of all such centres a must. Despite exorbitant fees being charged by such centres, there is no check in place to monitor the quality of service being provided to children under six years of age.

In the absence of any set guidelines, such centres provide inadequate services thus hampering a child’s development. HT was the first to write about the policy being framed by the ministry last month. The policy will not only spell out the kind of children literature and learning tools that such facilities need to have but also specify the standards for the kind of play material, play space, furniture, etc. which will have to be provided.

Besides, it will also specify the minimum qualification required to be employed at such centres.

Violation of the rules would invite stringent penalty.