The Sarva Shiksha Abhiyan (SSA) is set to introduce pre-primary classes for children in the age group of four to five, as part of its school readiness programme, to be introduced on pilot basis in 200 primary schools in each of the 72 districts in the state.

At present, pre-primary classes are held in government schools in Delhi, but only in the urban areas. Nowhere in the country are these classes held in rural areas, according to Ashok Ganguly, Additional State Project Director of the SSA.

Costing around Rs 10 crore, the project is being funded by both the Centre and the state government. While 60 per cent of the cost will be funded by the central government, the state government will bear 40 per cent.

“The programme will help in creating a favourable environment for students which will increase their learning level and help them to adapt to school. While the concept is already prevalent in private schools, we will now introduce it for the first time in government schools,” said Veena, State Project Director, SSA.

“We wanted to make such facilities available for children in rural areas as they are unable to afford the high fees of the pre-primary classes in private schools. A proposal in this regard was submitted to the Centre which has cleared it,” added Veena.

She said admission will be open to all students in the target age group. Around 29,000 children will be admitted in the pilot project. The curriculum for the pre-primary classes is being specially designed by the SSA.

“Once the response is satisfactory, we will implement it in all schools across the state from next year. The one-year course will include outdoor activities and learning as well. By the end of the year, the children will be familiar with alphabets, counting and would have developed the writing habit as well,” she said.

Schools with three or more teachers and classrooms will be chosen to start the pre-primary classes. Training of teachers will be start next month.

The Ganguly Committee, had recommended that one year of pre-primary should be available in all types of schools —private or government— in Delhi.

“While the classes were started there in urban areas, we are starting the classes in rural areas here,” said Veena.

The Ganguly Committee, headed by Ashok Ganguly, who was then CBSE chairman, was formed on the orders of the Delhi High Court to formulate a report on issues related to nursery admissions in private schools in Delhi and evolve appropriate criteria for the admission of children.

Its report was submitted to the High Court in October, 2006.