Foundational Stage of Learning in India

Foundational Stage of Learning in India

Background:
 The stage of Foundational learning is very critical for Holistic development of children. The NEP 2020 lays strong focus on it backed by several initiatives by the Government.

What is Foundational Learning?
 Foundational learning is exactly what it sounds like – the foundations of a child’s education. It refers to basic literacy, numeracy, and transferable skills, that are the building blocks for a life of learning.
 Just as we would not build a house without solid foundations, we cannot expect a child to thrive without solid foundational skills. Yet today, across most of the developing world, these foundations of learning are not strong enough.

What is the importance of Foundational stage?
 Brain development is most rapid in the first eight years of a child’s life.
 Early childhood lays the foundation for life-long learning and development. It is a key factor in determining the overall quality of life.
 Having necessary framework that govern foundational learning is important as each year number of school-going children routinely fail to pass basic learning outcome tests.
 What children learn and are equipped to in their foundational stages will eventually help in economic and social development of the nation in long run. Therefore, it becomes critical to invest more in foundational stages of learning.
 A clear pedagogy in foundational stage will also equally help the teachers to prepare themselves better for this stage of education.

What are government initiatives taken for foundational learning?
 Foundational learning study 2022 was jointly conducted by NCERT and Ministry of Education.
 National Education Policy 2020 accords highest priority to achieving FLN among all children by 2025.
 National Curriculum Framework explains in detail the steps to be taken care of for Foundational learning stage.
 National initiative for Proficiency in Reading with Understanding and Numeracy (NIPUN-BHARAT) Mission provides roadmap for strengthening foundational learning at national level.

What are challenges in Foundational learning?
 Lack of appropriate teacher training.
 Focus on rote-learning.
 Lack of standardized skill-based assessment.
 In Nationwide Foundational Learning Survey (FLS), it was observed that more than 50% of the assessed class III children from Delhi have either “limited” foundational numeracy skills or “lacking the most basic knowledge and skills”.
 Adoption of curriculum that doesn’t meet the requirements of modern day education.

Conclusion
 Foundational stage of learning is important for overall development of children who will eventually become future entrepreneur’s, leaders and contribute to nation building process. Thus, it is vital that necessary interventions are made wherever necessary.