Government or private: how Delhi’s preschools measure up on infrastructure, hygiene and safety

Government preschools lead in physical infrastructure

“The results of the data analysis revealed that, in terms of quality of physical infrastructure, government preschools performed better than private preschools, which exhibit mixed quality (good and average), and last Anganwadi centres,” the authors wrote.

They explained that this was because “the government and private preschools were attached to primary section buildings or senior secondary section buildings on school premises with the availability of adequate resources (i.e., storage facilities, electricity, lighting, ventilation, adequate indoor and outdoor space etc.), which are harder for standalone and rented AWC/NGO to access”.

The researchers added that in Anganwadi centres, “it was not sufficient” due to the absence of adequate indoor and outdoor spaces and proper ventilation.

Hygiene still ‘average’ across all, private preschools marginally edge ahead

On hygiene and Water, WASH practices, the study found that “all the respected preschool modes showed mainly ‘average’ WASH practice quality,” but “improvements were observed in the category of private preschools” compared to government ones. Anganwadi centres again performed the weakest, with several showing poor sanitation and hygiene behaviour.

The report attributed this to better attachment and management in private setups. “This could be due to the attachment of government preschools and private preschools with primary or senior secondary section buildings of schools, while Anganwadi centres attached to the Anganwadi hub, which provided most of the resources… However, checking personal hygiene, promotion of good sanitation, and hygienic behavior and practices were found missing, making the availability to the count but not the functionality.”

Average classroom quality in Anganwadis, government teachers more engaged in classrooms

When it came to classroom processes, “the government preschools performed better than some private preschools which showed slightly mixed quality (good and average),” the study said.

Anganwadi centres “mainly displayed average quality”, often because “teachers were not calling children by their names or not providing opportunities to speak,” and “usage of the mother tongue was less common”.

The authors explained that activities in many preschools “were random and not based on a timetable, switching from one activity to another was not smooth, only indoor activities were performed, only 50-75 per cent were participating in activities (due to high teacher-child ratio), and less to no use of TLM (teaching learning materials) or activity-based learning and psychosocial activities and encouragement of good habits were limited”.

Safety strong in government and private schools but weak in Anganwadis

In terms of safety, “most of the government preschools and private preschools were good, whereas very few Anganwadi centers reported good quality in the safety of children”.

Explaining the gap, the researchers wrote that “government preschools performed better than private preschools with a minute difference perhaps because government preschools and private preschools were attached to primary section buildings or senior secondary section buildings… which makes it necessary for authorities to maintain safety for children”.

They noted that both government and private institutions “had requisites such as the availability of first-aid, handing over the child to parents, ensuring the safety of the building and maintaining cleanliness around the building,” whereas such safeguards “are harder for accessing in standalone and rented AWC/NGO to access”.

Out of 15 Anganwadi centres, two were rated “good,” 11 “average,” and two “poor.” In contrast, 14 government preschools and 13 private ones were “good,” and none fell below “average”.

Overall finding

Summarising overall performance, the researchers noted, “government preschools and private preschools are working at good quality in terms of physical infrastructure, the safety of the children, and classroom process… On the other hand, Anganwadi centers are working majorly at average quality in all variables.”

The authors concluded that “concerned authorities of all three modes of preschool extensively need to work on WASH practices… and on preschool education especially in curriculum transaction and child-friendly environment”.

Strengthening these areas, they said, “will help to reach SDG and policy goals and make working in preschool modes ideal for children’s development”.

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