Only children who have completed 4 years of age can study one year of pre-primary level (ECD).
A study committee consisting of experts on reading has suggested to the government that children should be admitted to a class only after they reach the age of 6. The committee recommended that children should complete the one-year pre-primary level (ECD) age of 4 years before being admitted to a class.
The committee chaired by Deepak Sharma, Director General of Education and Human Resource Development Center, has suggested that the ECD period should be maintained for one year only and uniformity should be brought in private and public schools.
The Compulsory and Free Education Act stipulates that ECD should be conducted for one year before admission to class 1. But the private school has been running Monteshwari in the name of Nursery, LKG, UKG for 2 to 3 years and earning ECD classes.
"We have suggested that the child be admitted to ECD only after 48 months and after 60 months to be admitted to class 1 only," said Sharma. The committee has also asked children who have completed 60 months to get admission in class 1 without ECD experience.
It is the conclusion of the committee that care centers (play groups) can be run for children who have not completed 4 years. "We have said that children who have not completed 4 years will not be allowed to take admission and take the exam," said Sharma. He said that he suggested that a care center (play group) could be run at the local level taking into account the obligations of busy mothers.
"The conclusion of the committee is that Play Gupra should not be made a part of the school," he said. "There should be separate arrangements for children who have not completed 4 years," he said, "We have asked them to be placed in the non-teaching group." The committee formed to study various issues of ECD has made suggestions after studying the international practice and the practical situation of Nepal. The committee consisted of teachers' federation, parents' federation, representatives of private schools and expert members of pre-primary level.
According to international practice, the committee has also suggested making ECD two years in the future in Nepal as well. "In many countries, children are admitted to class 1 only after completing 72 months," said Coordinator Sharma, "In our country, we have asked to enroll children in ECD after 48 months and enroll them in class 1 after completing 6 years." The committee has recommended that education up to class 8 along with ECD be included in the basic structure of the school. ECD is currently not legally linked to the grassroots structure. The
committee has submitted its report to Education, Science and Technology Minister Vidya Bhattarai. Bhattarai formed a committee consisting of experts to implement the provisions of the Compulsory and Free Education Act and to bring uniformity in ECD.
According to the data of the center, 1.2 lakh children are studying in community and non-government run ECDs out of 6/6 lakh. There are 33,000 community, 8,000 non-governmental and 500 religious schools operating child development centers across the country.
Stakeholders have also demanded to bring ECD class in the school structure. In the discussion held by the Education Journalist Group on the School Education Bill and ECD, they expressed their displeasure that the ECD class was not included in the school structure. Child development expert Meenaji Dahal opined that education from ECD to Class 8 should be included at the basic level.
President of Teachers' Federation Laxmikishore Subedi said that ECDs should be accommodated in schools and the personnel working there should be given service facilities like primary teachers. Educationist Vishnu Karki suggested that the 'day care center' established for the care of children should not be placed in the school structure. Pabson Vice President Deepika Thapa said that by conducting ECD classes, children are being given nutritious food along with education.
