CHANDIGARH: Chief Minister S. Bhagwant Singh Mann led Punjab government marked the Children's Day with the launch of an innovative educational initiative "Aarambh, " aiming at revolutionizing early childhood education through enhanced parental engagement.
During the state level function at Mahatma Gandhi State Institute of Public Administration (MGSIPA), Chandigarh, School Education Minister S. Harjot Singh Bains along with the Chief Guest-Charanpreet Kaur, students of 8th standard from School of Eminence, Phase-11, Mohali unveiled this transformative program before an audience of over 500 attendees, including education officials from four states and representatives from more than 20 NGOs.
While addressing the gathering, Harjot Singh Bains noting that with over 3.5 lakh pre-primary students currently enrolled in Punjab's government schools, early childhood education has become more crucial than ever.
He said that programme "Aarambh" represents our commitment to fostering comprehensive early childhood development, recognizing that over 85% of brain development occurs before age six, " stated the Cabinet Minister, adding that the initiative introduces an innovative digital platform creating teacher-parent communities at the school level, facilitating daily educational content sharing through WhatsApp groups. This approach will ensure continuous parental guidance and involvement in children's early learning processes, particularly benefiting over 3.8 lakh low-income families, he added.
The Cabinet Minister informed that this initiative will initially launched in eight districts i.e. Ludhiana, Mohali, Patiala, Rupnagar, Sri Muktsar Sahib, Tarn Taran, Sangrur and Amritsar, in collaboration with the Punjab Development Commission and Rocket Learning NGO. This strategic implementation will set new standards in early childhood education, positioning Punjab as a leader in educational innovation, said the Minister.
The highlight of event was the special presentation by four primary school teachers who received training in Finland, sharing their expertise on implementing play-based and holistic development approaches in early education.
The School Education Minister also honoured 40 pre-primary teachers for their exceptional contributions to early childhood education in Punjab.
In her address, Dr. Amninder Kaur (PCS), Director, SCERT, Punjab said, "Programme Aarambh will create a vital bridge between parents and teachers, ensuring every child in Punjab receives optimal support both at home and school."
Over 1.5 lakh parents and 15, 000 teachers witnessed the launch event via video message.