Bhubaneswar: Odisha is drawing up a roadmap to transform anganwadi centres from primarily nutrition centres into formal early childhood education hubs, in line with the National Education Policy 2020, which envisages structured learning for children from the age of three.Women and child development department commissioner-cum-secretary Mrinalini Darswal said that while nutrition would remain central, the focus was on formalising the delivery of education at anganwadis to ensure every child receives early childhood education before entering Class I. This assumes importance given the poor levels of foundational literacy and numeracy among schoolchildren.The department has submitted a white paper to the state govt outlining the proposed reforms, which is currently under examination.“In Odisha, Class I textbooks have stories and rhymes, and children are expected to answer questions in sentences. Unfortunately, the foundational literacy percentage here is poor. Nationally, 22% of children can read and write according to their grade level, and the figure is even lower in the state,” Darswal said at a conclave on early childhood education here on Wednesday.According to the department, around 30,000 children out of nearly six lakh in the five-to-six-year age group in the state are not making the transition from anganwadis to schools. Darswal said these children were dropping out of the system, partly because they were unable to understand instructions.The department plans to ensure their coverage under Baal Aadhaar and Automated Permanent Academic Account Registry (Apaar), which will help track their educational journey.To strengthen teaching at the centres, the department will soon introduce the ‘Vidya Sarathi’ programme, under which college graduates will volunteer as early childhood educators at 1,000 anganwadi centres in the first phase, beginning this year.Darswal said the location of anganwadis and schools was essential to extending the NEP framework to the centres, as they could benefit from the infrastructure and teaching resources available in schools.Of the nearly 75,000 anganwadi centres in the state, around 17,000 are located close to schools, while 5,000 function within school premises. Govt plans to construct new anganwadi centres either within school premises or in their vicinity, she said.Meanwhile, the state is expanding its play-based Early Childhood Care and Education (ECCE) initiative, ‘Asa Kheliba, Asa Sikhiba’, which introduces children at anganwadis to structured learning through games and activities. Videos on learning through play are also shared with parents through WhatsApp.Implemented by the WCD department, the programme is anchored in the Centre’s Aadharshila curriculum, the national framework for children aged three to six years at anganwadi centres. Currently operational in 18 districts, it is expected to cover all 30 districts by the end of Nov, Darswal said.