EARLY CHILDHOOD EDUCATION FOR DISADVANTAGED- A CASE STUDY OF BODHSHALA IN JAIPUR

Expansion and improvement of comprehensive early childhood care and education, especially for the most vulnerable and disadvantaged children has been one of the major goal for achievement of education for all (EFA). But in the absence of 100% accessibility of Aanganwadi centers of ICDS and high cost of private preschools in India, many children below 6 years devoid of early childhood care and education. Besides this Aanganwadi centers and private nursery preschools there are many non-governmental organizations providing early childhood education to the disadvantaged children. The aim of the present case study was to find out the quality of education provided in the preschools run by NGOs. The primary as well as secondary data was collected from two Bodhshala run by Bodh Shiksha Samiti-an NGO of Rajasthan. The primary data was collected from the teachers, principals/coordinator and observation done by the researcher. The secondary data included records, registers and website of Bodhshala. The findings of the study shows that, both the Bodhshala were having very poor infrastructure facilities such as lighting, ventilation, toilet and drinking water facilities and learning materials. The children were of different age group (from 3 to 9 years) sitting in the same classroom and being taught by one teacher. Even the curriculum for all the age group was same. The teacher were not having professional qualification of ECCE, rather all of them were having the qualification of Bachelors in Education (B. Ed).