Deputy CM Pravati Parida launches IGNOU's DECE course in Odia

Deputy chief minister Pravati Parida on Monday launched Indira Gandhi National Open University (IGNOU's) Diploma in Early Childhood Care and Education (DECE) course in Odia. 

It is a one-year diploma course that lays emphasis on early childhood education, child health and nutrition, and students can take up this course after Class XII.

Parida opined bringing the course in Odia is a step in the right direction and it will specifically help anganwadi workers and trainers along with pre-school teachers who may take up the course in Odia. "Providing the curriculum in Odia will make learning easy and accessible," she further said.

Earlier, the course was taught in English, Hindi and Tamil. Describing early education as the foundation of the entire education system, Higher Education minister Suryabanshi Suraj said, "The DECE course by IGNOU will be of interest to educators, trainers and workers working with children in the birth to six years age group in various settings like creches, preschools, pre-primary classes, nursery schools, anganwadis and Bal Vatikas."

The minister also pointed out that the National Education Policy (NEP)-2020 focuses on consolidating early education and advancing education to upper levels through the mother tongue. 

The programme saw anganwadi workers who enrolled in the course participating online. Some of the others present included IGNOU vice-chancellor Uma Kanjilal, commissioner-cum-secretary of Higher Education department Aravind Agrawal and director of Women & Child Development department Monisha Banerjee.

Earlier in June this year, IGNOU and the Higher Education department had inked an MoU under which, IGNOU will offer courses like bachelor's and master's degrees, postgraduate diplomas, diplomas, certificates, and specialized programmes in Odia language throughout the state.