The Preparatory stage in the National Education Policy 2020 refers to the age group of 8-11 years in a child’s education journey. This stage is considered critical in a child’s development and is aimed at providing a strong foundation for future learning.

The policy emphasizes the need to provide a child-centric and holistic education that focuses on the development of cognitive, emotional, and physical abilities. The following are some key highlights of the policy for the Preparatory stage:

1.  Focus on Foundational Literacy and Numeracy: The policy emphasizes the need for all children to attain foundational literacy and numeracy by the end of grade 3. This is achieved through a strong emphasis on reading, writing, and mathematics skills.

2. Integrated Learning: The policy emphasizes the need for an integrated approach to learning that connects different subjects and emphasizes practical and experiential learning. The aim is to develop critical thinking and problem-solving skills in children.

3. Multilingualism: The policy emphasizes the need to promote multilingualism in children, with a focus on the mother tongue or regional language as the medium of instruction. This is aimed at preserving local cultures and improving learning outcomes.

4. Play-based Learning: The policy encourages play-based learning and emphasizes the importance of developing social and emotional skills in children. The aim is to create a joyful and inclusive learning environment.

5. Technology-enabled Learning: The policy recognizes the potential of technology in enhancing learning outcomes and emphasizes the need to provide access to digital resources and tools for children.

Overall, the Preparatory stage in the National Education Policy 2020 is aimed at providing a strong foundation for future learning and development. It emphasizes the need for a child-centric and holistic approach to education that focuses on foundational literacy and numeracy, integrated learning, multilingualism, play-based learning, and technology-enabled learning.