This study was aimed to explore the perspectives of parents about the effectiveness of the ECE program and the provision of opportunities for parental involvement in the prevailing early childhood education program in public schools of Punjab. The qualitative research approach was deployed through the application of semi-structured interviews. Twelve parents from the rural and urban areas of Punjab were selected through the convenient sampling technique. Interviews conducted with parents highlighted the desire of parents regarding the need for quality ECE programs for children at an early age and the creation of a child-friendly environment in public schools. The participants of this study have complained about the reluctant behavior of teachers in public schools. Mostly, ECE teachers show less concern with the child's performance in schools. Participants reported to be not informed about the daily performance of their children by school. The play has a vital role in the process of active learning. But public schools have not enough play facilities reported by the participants of this study. This study was a comprehensive report about the parental perspectives about ECE program in Punjab which will be very useful and informative for policymakers, researchers, and administration of the Quaid-Azam academy for education development, Punjab to modify the program according to the needs for achieving goals of ECE.

The present study aimed to evaluate the effectiveness of the current Early Childhood Education (ECE) Program regarding the facilities provided in Public Schools of Punjab. The study was quantitative in nature. Eleven districts out of fourteen districts of central Punjab were selected randomly. A self-developed checklist was deployed to collect data from public ECE schools of Punjab through a convenient sampling technique. The reliability of the checklist was measured through the pilot study with the Cronbach alpha value of 0.78.  Quantitative data were analyzed through descriptive and inferential statistical techniques. Results of this study indicated that there was a shortage of separate allocated ECE rooms, trained ECE teachers, Care-giver, ECE kits, learning corners, the teacher-made toys, portfolios, and furnished playgrounds. The results of this study further revealed that on average the enrollment and retention rate of katchi in the year 2018 is higher than the enrollment and retention rate in katchi of the year 2013. This study was a comprehensive report about the ECE program in Punjab which will be very useful and informative for policymakers, administration of the Quaid-Azam academy for education development, Punjab to modify the program according to the need for achieving goals as well as researchers.

Purpose: This qualitative research paper explores the factors affecting parental perceptions and concerns about inclusive education. It also investigates the factors influencing the access and participation of children with disabilities in mainstream schools. Design/Methodology/Approach: Ten parents (n=10) of children with and without disabilities were selected through purposive sampling from inclusive primary schools of Punjab. Semi-structured interviews and thematic analysis were employed for data collection and analysis. Findings: Findings revealed that parents of children with disabilities are more inclined towards inclusive education. Reactions of parents, quality of instruction and institutional support have created a feeling of un-certainty and dissatisfaction amongst the parents of children with disabilities about inclusion. Large class sizes and time constraints have been established as barriers to inclusion. Implications/Originality/Value: The study would be beneficial for the school department to consider the factors adversely affecting the process of inclusion.  Parents’ guidance and counselling may be made mandatory to make inclusive education successful.

This study was aimed to investigate the perspectives of headteachers, teachers, caregivers, and parents about the prevailing Early Childhood Education (ECE) program in public schools of Punjab. Participants of the study were selected through a convenient sampling technique. Semi-structured interviews were conducted with 6 headteachers, 6 teachers, 3 caregivers, and 3 parents. Qualitative content analysis was used to analyze the collected data.  All data related to eighteen participants were coded. Clustering similar codes helped in identifying sub-categories from data. Several assertions were developed by comparing and contrasting various categories and sub-categories. The findings of this research highlighted the missing facilities of ECE in public schools i.e. separate ECE rooms, trained ECE teachers, absence of caregivers, unavailability of a separate budget for ECE, provision of ECE kit, well-equipped playgrounds, reluctant behavior of teachers as well as parents dissatisfaction with teachers’ performance.  The results of the study are useful for policymakers, administration of the Quaid-e-Azam Academy for Educational Development (QAED) to develop the program.

This article aims to investigate the representation of women by Anita Desai from psychoanalytical perspective.Desai, being a post-colonial writer has diverted the attention of many critics and perusers towards her astonishing style of portraying feminine desires and urges in such a minute way that startles the readers. Desai has amplified the unconscious desires of her female characters which are usually muted and suppressed in overarching patriarchal system. Desai has penetrated their unvoiced miseries and unfulfilled wishes which get chronic and later take the shape of neurotic trauma, so Desai debunks this aspect of ruthless chauvinistic society to give space to women voices in true sense. This angle of investigating characters remined unexplored by many writers for a very long time. Through her eminent novels like Fire on the Mountain, Cry the Peacock, Voices in the City and Clear light of the day, readers are well aware of the minute details she presents, these voices are echoed by her sorrowful and agonizing characters. Anita Desai has augmented these females with power of voice and reaction to challenge the power structures. The predicament and unaddressed sorrows of these female characters also pave way to recognize the miserable plight, contemporary women is facing in her life, in that way her characters supplement the perusers with fictional case studies to have broader comprehension of understanding the traumas of the females ultimately addressing those issues to build a healthy and balanced environment for women around.