India-based global edtech company Square Panda India has announced its strategic partnerships with Nand Ghar An Anil Agarwal Foundation Initiative to launch Anganwadi education transformation program in Uttar Pradesh.
Project Nand Ghar is a transformative leap dedicated to benefitting rural women, children, and communities. These model state-of-the-art Anganwadis are working in partnership with the Union Ministry of Women and Child Development.
“This partnership aims to provide first of its kind Anganwadi Education Transformation Program by giving quality education to young children besides upskilling Anganwadi workers from 100 Nand Ghars (Anganwadis) across the state of Uttar Pradesh,” the statement said.
Speaking on the partnership, Vedanta Chairman Anil Agarwal said, “I am delighted to see that Vedanta’s flagship project, Nand Ghar, is transforming the lives of rural women and children across the country. We are committed to fulfilling Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s vision of eradicating child malnutrition, providing education and healthcare, and empowering rural women through skill development, and Nand Ghar will be the change agent. I do not doubt in my mind that Nand Ghar will continue to create a better tomorrow for the mother and the child at the grassroots level.”
Talking about the collaboration with Nand Ghar, Ashish Jhalani, President (International Markets) Square Panda Inc & Managing Director, Square Panda India said, “Anganwadis are community spaces that lay a strong foundation for a child’s psychological, physical, and social development. We are proud to partner with Vedanta for this research-based program that is well-aligned with NEP 2020 with a strong focus on both foundational learning and capacity building of the Anganwadi worker.”
The Anganwadi Education Transformation Program includes an early childhood education program for early learners (3-6 years) designed as per the Integrated Child Development Scheme curriculum).
“It aims to focus on the development of the essential physical, cognitive, language, and socio-emotional skills in young learners with the help of visual, storytelling, experiential, gamified, and activity-based approaches in both digital and traditional modes of learning,” the statement said.
“The program structure also includes training for the Anganwadi workers and workshops on early childhood care and education for ICDS Supervisors and CDPOs so that they can better support the vision of Project Nand Ghar,” it added.
Initially launched in Uttar Pradesh, the program will gradually be rolled out in the other states. With blended learning now an important part of the learning experience, it will run as a home learning program supported by digital learning resources till the time anganwadis are closed and will transition to in-Anganwadi learning after Covid restrictions are lifted and children are called back to Anganwadi Centres.
“Parents will play a critical role in this home learning experience and will be provided access to daily lessons and activities that have been mapped to the curriculum. These will be delivered via WhatsApp, where parents will receive daily lessons and conduct them with children,” the statement further said.
Square Panda India will also provide support throughout the program duration through its AI-driven chatbot – SquareTalk, which is available in multiple languages. The program will be continuously monitored and mapped against pre-defined qualitative and quantitative learning outcomes.