Exploring the drivers and barriers to the non-formal education in Anganwadi centers for sustainable development education: a multiple stakeholder study

The most populous country in the world, India, seeks to achieve universal education for its citizens. An informal education system for preschool children to develop their learning abilities is crucial. Anganwadi workers provide informal education. While there have been several studies on Anganwadi-based informal education, there is a lack of studies presenting a holistic perspective of all the stakeholders in the informal education system, especially following the New Education Policy 2020 and SDG 4. This study undertakes 46 interviews across five stakeholders. It presents five themes – policy and regulation, education, social norms, infrastructure, and human resources. These themes further present the driving or barrier factors to meet the objectives. The study concludes by discussing the theoretical and managerial implications.