Spotlight on: Sindh Early Childhood, Care and Education & Foundational Learning Policy 2024

School in Pono Village, Sindh (Source: PFL Hub)

What is the vision of the Sindh Early Childhood Care, Education and Foundational Learning Policy?

The Sindh ECCE & Foundational Learning Policy was produced by the School Education and Literacy Department Government of Sindh in December 2024. envisions that all early-grade children (ECE to Grade 3) receive high-quality education that fosters their academic, social, and emotional growth. The policy is designed to ensure an inclusive and well-rounded learning experience for all children in formal schools, non-formal education (NFE) programs, private and trust schools, and Madaris. The policy is a merger of foundational learning with Sindh’s earlier 2015 ECCE Policy.

What is the definition of ‘Foundational Learning’ set out in the policy?

According to the policy, Foundational Learning encompasses:

• Basic literacy and numeracy skills

• Socio-emotional development to support lifelong learning

• Cognitive and transferable skills essential for higher-order learning

Aims of the ECCE&FL Policy

The Sindh ECCE & Foundational Learning Policy aims to ensure the holistic growth and strengthening proficiencies in reading, comprehension, writing, and numeracy skills including care and socio-emotional learning of all children enrolled in the target grades in formal schools, non-formal schools, private and trust schools, and Madaris enrolled in ECE to Grade 3 in formal education, Package A and B in the non-formal education (NFE) stream and equivalent in all private, trust schools and Madaris.

How will this be achieved?

The policy will focus on the following reforms:

1. Developing assessments, monitoring, and evaluation mechanisms: The Sindh government will implement consistent assessment frameworks in reading and numeracy to monitor student progress. These will be tailored to the specific needs of ECCE and FL using culturally appropriate methods. 

2. Expanding ECE programs and learning environment: 

   Strengthening ECE programs by increasing enrollment, resources, and trained educators to support early learners.
   Introducing structured interventions to bridge learning gaps and enhance school readiness.

3. Updating Curriculum and Learning Materials:

   Developing a progressive curriculum that builds foundational literacy and numeracy from ECE to Grade 3.
   Creating a digital repository of high-quality teaching and learning materials aligned with the ECCE & FL curriculum.

4. Remediation at middle and high school level:

   Evidence suggests that more than half the children in every grade are behind their required proficiency levels. For children who need it, the policy aims to catch children up with basic foundational skills by rolling out remediation classes in all schools. 

What are the key areas the policy covers?

Sindh ECCE & Foundational Learning Policy Pillars

The policy is made up of eight pillars: 

1. Human Resource Development & Teacher Training Multi/Mono Grade

2. Provision of Basic Facilities & Learning/Teaching Materials 

3. Student Assessments

4. Syllabus Improvement & Textbook Development

5. Strengthening Non-Formal Education (NFE)

6. Provision of Socio-Emotional Skills (SES) & Community Mobilization

7. Administrative Authorities & Feedback Mechanism

8. Provision of Stipend & Transport to help parents fight poverty

What are implementation plans of the Sindh ECCE & Foundational Learning Policy

The Sindh ECCE & Foundational Learning policy has been notified. As part of the implementation plan, the Policy will review and develop Reading and Numeracy standards. It will also finalize ECCE Workbooks (I & II) for Sindhi, Urdu, English, and Numeracy.