Published Paper Details:

The successful implementation of Early Childhood Care and Education (ECCE) is vital for lifelong learning and holistic development. Guided by NEP 2020, this study examines the practices and challenges of pre-primary education in Prayagraj through a descriptive design using a checklist-based survey of 50 teachers and 50 parents from 25 institutions. Data were categorized into Outdoor and Indoor Facilities covering indicators like playgrounds, toilets, drinking water, medical rooms, teaching methods, and digital tools. Results show that while basic facilities such as toilets and drinking water exist, gaps remain in shaded play areas, medical infrastructure, and fencing. Indoor environments have adequate lighting but lack digital aids, rest spaces, and ECCE-aligned curricula. Parents largely validated teacher findings yet showed low awareness of NEP 2020 and minimal participation. Major challenges include inadequate funding, poor infrastructure, limited training, and large class sizes. However, good practices like creative teaching aids and community involvement were observed. The study urges capacity-building, district-level policy execution, and parental awareness programs to bridge the gap between NEP 2020 goals and ground realities.