Page 132 - EducationWorld December 2022

Cover Story EW INDIA PRESCHOOL RANKINGS 2022-23

Model anganwadis in 3 metros

To compile the 2022-23 league table of model anganwadis, C fore field researchers
interviewed 446 sample respondents including anganwadi teachers and SEC (socio-
economic category) ‘C’, ‘D’ and ‘E’ parents in Delhi, Mumbai and Bangalore

n 2018, in the cause of support- spectrum, the anganwadi rankings Palety, chief executive of C fore ex-
ing the Central government’s are back. To compile the 2022-23 plaining the rankings methodology
ICDS (Integrated Child Develop- league tables of best anganwadis, and parameters specially devised for
Iment Services) programme (estb. field researchers of the Delhi-based government anganwadis.
1975), EducationWorld introduced market research company Centre for In the Union Budget 2022-23,
the first-ever ranking of government Forecasting and Research (C fore) in- the Central government allocated
anganwadis — essentially nutrition terviewed 446 sample respondents in- Rs.20,263 crore for the ICDS pro-
centres for lactating mothers and chil- cluding anganwadi teachers and SEC gramme — a mere Rs.1,235 per child
dren in the age group 0-5 years from (socio-economic category) ‘C’, ‘D’ and per year — a sum clearly inadequate to
poorest households which are also ‘E’ parents in Delhi, Mumbai and Ban- provide nutrition, leave alone profes-
mandated to provide early childhood galore. sionally administered ECCE.
education — in Mumbai, Delhi and “The sample respondents were Ab initio, EducationWorld has been
Bangalore to serve as models for the asked to rate anganwadis that they demanding and has also repeatedly
country’s 1.4 million anganwadis. The were aware of on a ten point scale un- published detailed schema for provid-
inaugural as well as 2019-20 rankings der six parameters. The parameters of ing an additional Rs.110,000 crore for
of Top 3 anganwadis in these three assessment were competence of teach- the ICDS programme. In the pages fol-
metros received encouraging feedback ers, infrastructure, individual atten- lowing, we present league tables rank-
from our readers. tion to students, nutrition/child care, ing the top anganwadis in Mumbai,
However in 2020 because of the safety and hygiene, and leadership Delhi and Bangalore with the twin ob-
pandemic lockdown of all education quality. Preschools assessed by less jectives of acknowledging/highlight-
institutions including anganwadis, than 25 persons were eliminated from ing the good work being done by these
the rankings were discontinued for the rankings exercise. All the param- role model anganwadis, and building
two years — 2020-21 and 2021-22. eters are given equal weightage except the pressure of public opinion to force
Now with the resumption of in-per- competence of faculty which is given the government to raise the budgetary
son learning across the education double weightage,” says Premchand allocation for the ICDS programme.

130 EDUCATIONWORLD DECEMBER 2022