JAMMU, Oct 27: Director Samagra Shiksha, J&K, Er Deep Raj Kanethia said in the valedictory function of a two- day workshop on Home Based Learning (HBL) under early childhood care and education, organized by National Development Foundation in partnership with UNICEF and in collaboration with Directorate of School Education Jammu and Directorate of Samagra Shiksha (J&K).

Director Samagra Shiksha J&K was the chief guest in the valedictory function. Jaswinder Kour, Coordinator ECCE, Dr Sareeta Sharma, Asstt Coordinator ECCE and Isha Bal, PO Education NDF were the Resource Persons.

Around 60 Education Facilitators were trained during the training programme. Sunny Kumar, Programme Manager, NDF presented the welcome address. Participants were trained on various modules of the workbook to be delivered at the door step of children whose education got affected by COVID-19 Pandemic.

Rajiv Khajuria, President & Chief Executive Officer National Development Foundation (NDF) gave a brief account of ECCE intervention in light of RTE Act, 2009 & National Education Policy 2020.

Er Deep Raj Kanethia Director Samagra Shiksha, called upon all other departments like Social Welfare and Labour Department to join hands with School Education Department in the best interest of the children. Joint efforts of the Govt & civil society can help get children out from child Labour and mainstreamed in school, he added.

He asked National Development Foundation (NDF) & UNICEF to continue work on ECCE without any gap. He said that Government is keen to closely work with credible and reputed civil society organisation like NDF.

Director Samagra appreciated the joint efforts of School Education Department, ICDS Directorate, NDF and UNICEF for developing “AANGANSHALA” a home based learning workbook for children, who need it the most. He appreciated the efforts of NDF for making it bilingual i.e in Hindi & Urdu for wider reach and acceptability on ground.