By Vasudha Arabandi | 20th February, 2024

Social justice is commonly defined as the principle that all individuals deserve equal social, political, and economic rights, regardless of caste, class, gender, or creed. However, an often-overlooked aspect of social justice is that, beyond equal rights, people also deserve equal opportunities.

For decades, education has been recognised as the greatest equaliser that we have. It not only helps provide equal opportunities but also helps break cycles of poverty, tap into missing potential, and cease perpetuation of systemic inequality. However, despite universal acknowledgement of the importance of education, progress is often slow.  

Discussions on education often focus on later stages of a child’s life, such as primary or high school, while not paying enough attention to the crucial early years. UNESCO recommends that we spend 10% of our total education budget on ECCE, however India currently only spends around 3.32% of  its total education budget on ECCE, to meet international standards and meet domestic demands we need to increase spending by 3 times! According to research 85% of brain development occurs before the age of five, yet UNESCO studies indicate that only one in four children under the age of 5 have access to any form of pre-primary education.

This is in spite of the fact that studies further reveal that children who receive high-quality early childhood care and education (ECCE) are 30% more likely to graduate from school and 40% less likely to repeat grades 1-8. Even though it is not often presented as such, early childhood care and education is one of the most crucial social justice interventions in a child’s life.

It not only increases access to formal education but also fosters a love for learning and establishes a lifelong learning habit. ECCE fosters holistic development, increases cognitive ability and ensures that children are not just school but also ‘life-ready’.

Publicly funded ECCE programs through the Integrated child development services system plays a vital role in ensuring that children from less affluent and under-resourced households have access to equal opportunities—preventing inequality before these young lives have even begun. 

Recognising this, the Ministry of Women Child and Development has launched ECCE initiatives like  Poshan Bhi Padhai Bhi to ensure Anganwadis are vibrant centres of learning. Along with trainings for Anganwadi Workers in ECCE with additional curriculums like  National Curriculum for Early Childhood Care and Education for children from 3-6 years- Aadharshila and National Framework for Early Childhood stimulation 2024 for children from 0-3 years – Navchetana. These trainings not only educate children but also upskill Anganwadi workers and create job opportunities, helping more women rejoin and stay in the workforce—making ECCE a powerful tool for social justice.

This world Social Justice Day we need to recognise that there can be no sustainable social change without improving the lives of our children and women. Investing in ECCE programs today means building a more just, equal, and empowered society tomorrow—because our children are the future, and their potential deserves a strong start.