Mumbai: Maharashtra is set to roll out its new school curriculum in phases starting 2025-26, closely following the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020. Over one lakh anganwadis will this year become the launchpads of a brand-new early learning framework called Aadharshila, drafted for Maharashtra’s 30 lakh littlest learners aged 3 to 6.At the heart of this initiative is the aim to ensure that by the time children turn 6, they are ready for grade 1. Developed by the Union ministry of women and child development and fine-tuned by Maharashtra’s SCERT, Aadharshila introduces a play-based, stage-wise curriculum through Balvatika levels 1, 2, and 3. Anganwadi workers will soon be equipped with fresh teaching manuals, playful learning materials, and structured guides.Every hub will ensure health check-ups, nutrition, and vaccinations.Maharashtra’s school education department announced the plan on Monday in a govt resolution. “Training manuals, teaching materials, and structured guides will be distributed to Anganwadi workers and supervisors to ensure smooth execution of the academic curriculum while also focusing on its primary goals such as nutrition of children, health check-ups, immunisation, etc,” states the GR.Swati Popat Vats, president of the Early Childhood Association, asked what many parents have on their minds: “When will the govt pass a new GR to change the age of entry in nursery (Balvatika 1) as currently 2.5-year-olds are entering? This circular once again states that a child should be 6 for grade 1. Then there is an urgent need for the govt to change the age of entry to 3 years in June/April.”The govt GR states the women and child development department will also roll out specialised training programmes for anganwadi workers. Those with a Class 12 qualification will be offered a six-month certification in Early Childhood Care and Education (ECE), while others will have access to a one-year diploma programme. The State Council of Educational Research and Training (SCERT), Maharashtra, Pune, will oversee these initiatives.Popat Vats raised concerns over the proposed six-month certification for anganwadi workers, insisting a full year is the least they deserve to understand the delicate art of nurturing the brain’s most critical development years.Pilot programmes will soon take root in select anganwadis attached to local schools, and all anganwadis will be geo-tagged for better oversight. The state plans to relocate many anganwadis to vacant school classrooms, ensuring no child’s learning space feels makeshift. The govt will ensure services under the Integrated Child Development Services (ICDS) scheme continue uninterrupted.