Kathmandu, March 21

Educationists have stressed on the need make early childhood education a priority.

Speaking at an interaction “Policy regarding Early Childhood Development’, joint secretary at the education ministry Dr Hari Lamsal stressed on changing students’ attitude towards learning through curriculum reform.

“The government has begun early childhood development programme, which aims to ensure holistic development of children,” he said, adding that it was necessary to set up ECD centres in each and every community. Currently, there are around 75,000 ECD centres running across the country.

He claimed that the education system of the country was promoting rote learning instead of developing students’ social behaviour. “This should change,” he said.

Devi Khadka, a Kavre-based teacher, said, “Teachers in public schools have to work extra hours after completing their ECD classes. As a result, they have not been able to give due attention to small children. Although the government has provided ECD training to teachers time and again, the result is not so encouraging.”

Khadka said while the public schools were not interested in improving teaching-learning environment, private schools were only competing to increase the number of students.

Babu Ram Adhikari, adviser at National Campaign for Education-Nepal, said schools should encourage children to do what they were good at doing instead of being forced to do what was expected of them. He said teachers and parents should play an important role in discouraging such practice.