Toy-based pedagogy is in alignment with the NEP 2020 and Prime Minister’s vision of “Vocal For Local” said Dr. Rajkumar Ranjan Singh, Minister of State for Education at the inaugural session of International Webinar on Toys and Games to Play, Make and Learn as a Chief Guest.
Dr Singh said that highlighted the role of toys in the cognitive development of children and ignited creativity and problem-solving skills in them. He stated that toy as a teaching-learning resource has potential to transform pedagogy, and that toy-based pedagogy can be easily used by the parents to make their children learn.
Toys help in understanding the cultural heritage of our country, and at the same time, strengthen the psychomotor and emotional development of their personality, he added. He hoped that this international webinar will facilitate the journey of our nation towards self-sufficiency and will contribute to the economic development of the country.
Smt. Anita Karwal, Secretary, Department of School Education and Literacy, Ministry of Education mentioned the role of introducing toy-based pedagogy in the upcoming NCF. She called attention to the importance of toys and games in the Indian tradition and raised concerns over games such as Shatranj or Chess that have been discovered in India and are now losing hold on Indian children.
She presented the context of the NEP 2020, mentioning that it has provided for a definitive shift by focusing on play-based learning for the foundational and preparatory years. She also accentuated other aspects of the NEP 2020: usage of puzzles and games for the teaching of mathematics; rooting curriculum and pedagogy in the ethos of Indian culture, bringing out the unique potential of children, etc.
