Today, core committee members of the Gujarat Independent Pre-School Association made a representation regarding the mandatory registration policy for pre-schools. They highlighted discrepancies in the policy, including issues such as the requirement for a BU (Building Use) certificate, registration fees, Aadhaar integration, fire safety, a mandatory 15-year lease agreement, the Balwadi class provision, U-DISE code, and the compulsion to operate under a trust. The representation called for clarification and a revision of the judicial policies to align with the guidelines outlined in the National Education Policy (NEP) and Early Childhood Care and Education (ECCE) by the Government of India, as well as the permissible usage specified under Gujarat Development Control Regulations (GDCR).
The association members from across Gujarat gathered in Gandhinagar to present their concerns and requested the state government to address the issues in collaboration with the association. Local-level meetings and district-specific programs were also conducted to urge the government to hear the stakeholders’ concerns and resolve the inconsistencies through dialogue.
It is noteworthy that the NEP 2020 and ECCE frameworks prepared by the Government of India focus on the education of children aged 3 to 6 years. However, the registration process drafted by the Gujarat State Education Department presents several hurdles due to discrepancies, creating challenges for pre-school registration. The association has demanded that the policies and regulations be revised, keeping in mind the goals of NEP and involving all stakeholders in the process.
Gujarat has around 40,000 pre-schools employing more than three lakh people. If the policies are formulated in alignment with the objectives of NEP and ECCE, they would benefit over 40 lakh children studying in these pre-schools, their parents, and the operators of these institutions, enabling comprehensive development. This would also help the state and central governments achieve NEP’s objectives more effectively. The pre-school management has assured its readiness to contribute to this process.
The primary goal of NEP is to provide quality education to children, reduce the dropout rate, and ensure that children aged 3 to 6 years receive early education near their homes. Standalone pre-schools have been fulfilling this objective for years, and their contributions have been recognized by UNICEF.
The association’s core committee emphasized that the government must ensure these small-scale institutions continue to operate and serve children aged 3 to 6 years with care and nurturing within close proximity to their homes. They also underlined the importance of supporting Gujarat’s women entrepreneurs who manage these institutions.
Despite multiple appeals to the Chief Minister, Education Minister, and Minister for Women and Child Development, no solutions or responses have been received. Therefore, the core committee members again met officials in Gandhinagar today to present their demands in person. If no response is received within a stipulated time, the association has announced plans for state-wide peaceful protests in Gandhinagar, adhering to the principles of Gandhian non-violence.
