Certificate Course in Early Childhood Care & Education (ECCE)

The National Open School (NIOS) was established in November, 1989 as an autonomous organisation in pursuance of National Policy on Education, 1986, by the Ministry of Human Resource Development, Government of India. Open Schooling was originally experimented upon since 1979 as a project of the CBSE and was later amalgamated with the NOS. In October, 1990 through a resolution of the Government of India, the NOS was vested with the authority to examine and certify students registered with it, upto pre-degree level courses. NOS was renamed as National Institute of Open Schooling (NIOS) in the year 2002.

Objectives

1. To provide opportunities for continuing and developmental education to interested learners, through general education; life enrichment and vocational courses upto pre-degree level.

2. To provide consultancy services and to engage in model building in close collaboration with states and a variety of other agencies or institutions.

3. To serve as an agency for effective dissemination of Information related to distance education and open learning.

4. To identify and promote standards of learning in distance education system and open schooling through research and evaluation. To maintain standards of equivalence with the formal system, while keeping its own distinct character.

Need for an ECCE Course

The need for an Early Childhood Care and Education Course (ECCE) was recognized by the National Policy on Education (1986 and revised 1992). It is realised that Early Childhood Care and Education is a strong base for primary education. It form important input in the strategies of human resource development, as a feeder and support programme for primary education. It is an enrichment course for both working and non-working women. Further, in the context of 'Education for All', expansion of early childhood care and education activities to include family and communities, especially for the poor and the disadvantaged children in remote and rural areas, is immensely implied. Therefore, this programme aims at training rural youth, girls, mothers, SC/ ST with special focus on women to enable them to be involved in pre-schools, balwadis, creches and day care centers, in their own village/town or in the neighboring localities. It will thus help in achieving the national goal of 'Education for All' by orienting needed personnel for ECCE.

Pre-school education and early childhood care is mostly offered in the unorganized sectors. Most of these institutions in the country are run by individuals, private bodies and NGOs. By and large, teachers and tutors are found to be under-qualified and untrained. Therefore, there is pressing need to provide opportunities to these personnel with adequate vocational training. As they are unable to join regular institutions, it is necessary to provide required orientation and training through open and distance learning system. Hence this course is designed and offered by the National Institute of Open Schooling as a Certificate Course in ECCE as a vocational education programme at + 2 level through open and distance learning.

Course Objectives

1. To develop understanding of foundations of pre-school education.

2. To develop understanding of growth and development in early childhood (0-6 yrs).

3. To develop skills to manage an Early Childhood Care and Education Centre.

4. To provide guidance/knowledge for working effectively with parents and community for education of pre-school children.

Course Structure

The course in ECCE consists of Vocational Package comprising of following three subjects:

1. Understanding the Child (Course Code:439)

2. Early Childhood Care and Education - Principles and Processes (Course Code:440).

3. Organizing and Managing an Early Childhood Care and Education Centre (Course Code:441).

Eligibility Criteria

Any person who has successfully completed Secondary School Examination (Class X) conducted by CBSE, NIOS or any State Board of Secondary Education is eligible to enroll for ECCE Course.

Duration

Duration of the course is one year. However, a candidate may complete the course within
five years of registration as per rules of NIOS in force from time to time.

Medium of Instruction

The medium of instruction is English, Hindi and Urdu.

Instructional System

1. Self-instructional printed material.
2. Audio and Video CDs.
3. Assignments.
4. Face to face counselling at Accredited Vocational Institutions (AVIs).
5. Practical work at AVIs (Study Centers).
6. On the job training wherever applicable/required.

Scheme of Evaluation

There will be Internal and External evaluation for certification as per details given below:

Theory - 190 marks
Practical - 110 marks
The practical work will be evaluated internally.

Certification

Certificate in Early Childhood Care and Education will be awarded on qualifying in all the three subjects of the vocational package.

Course Fee

Fee will be charged only once. For Fee and Other Details Contact Us. For the three subjects of vocational package will be charged from all categories of candidates.

Admission Procedure

Admission is done twice a year as per dates notified by the NIOS. Application form and prospectus can be procured from either the NIOS or its Accredited Vocational Institutions (Study centers).

Modalities for Offering the Course

AVIs (study centers) would enroll the candidates, administer the course and get the students examined by the NIOS for certification.