Keywords
ECCE
Education
Teachers
Thoubal District
How to Cite
Abstract
Early childhood education (ECE) is critical for children's cognitive and social development. This study analytically examines the status of pre-primary education in Thoubal district, Manipur, focusing on school registration, teacher demographics, qualifications, and experience. A descriptive survey method was employed, utilizing a sample of 290 teachers from 60 pre-primary schools. Findings revealed that 78.3% of schools are registered, adhering to basic norms, but 21.7% operate without regulatory standards. Most teachers (66.6%) are located in rural areas. The workforce is predominantly young (72.1% below 30) and female (85.5%). While the majority are graduates (84.1%), 23.1% lack professional qualifications, with only 1.0% having specific ECCE training. Furthermore, 52.4% have less than 5 years of experience. These findings align with national reports on untrained educators. The study underscores the urgent need for structured teacher training, strengthened regulatory oversight, and enhanced institutional support to align local educational practices with established ECCE standards.
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