UGC urges universities to adopt Anganwadi centres for early childhood education
Hyderabad/New Delhi: The University Grants Commission (UGC) has issued an advisory to all universities and colleges across India to adopt nearby Anganwadi Centres and integrate them into academic programmes. The move follows recommendations made during the 5th National Conference of Chief Secretaries (NCCS), which focused on the theme “Early Childhood Education: Laying the Foundation.”
UGC Secretary Prof Manish R Joshi, in a communication to Vice Chancellors and Principals, emphasised that Higher Education Institutions (HEIs) should actively engage with Anganwadi Centres to strengthen Early Childhood Care and Education (ECCE) for children aged three to six years. The initiative is expected to provide students with experiential learning opportunities, professional exposure, and a sense of social responsibility, while simultaneously supporting Anganwadi Centres in improving service quality.
Earlier, the Union Ministry of Women and Child Development (MWCD), Secretary Anil Malik emphasised that disciplines such as Education, Social Work, Nutrition, Public Health, Child Development, Psychology, and Social Welfare should lead in integrating Anganwadi engagement into their curricula. Under this framework, students will undertake supervised visits to Anganwadi Centres, offering continuous academic and field-level mentoring.
The advisory requested that universities and colleges adopt five to six nearby Anganwadi Centres for long-term mentorship and community engagement, and mandate this engagement in fieldwork, internships, dissertations, or structured outreach activities.
Officials noted that the initiative will benefit both students and communities. For students, it provides practical exposure to child development, nutrition, and public health practices. For Anganwadi Centres, it ensures sustained academic and human resource support, helping improve the overall quality of ECCE services.
By fostering collaboration between academia and community institutions, the UGC and MWCD aim to build a stronger foundation for early childhood education.
