IGNOU DECE Admission 2026:- IGNOU is currently accepting online applications for the DECE program for the session 2026. Admission is being held online and the student registration form is uploaded on IGNOU SAMARTH portal. Applicants will be required to pay an application fee of INR 300/-(non-refundable). Admissions to diploma in early childhood care and education will be based on merit. Applicants are advised to carefully fill the admission form as no changes are allowed after submission. Also, IGNOU charges a late fee of INR 200/-. Hence duly field application form must be submitted before the due date. Go to IGNOU office webpage @ignou.ac.in to get the latest admission 2026 updates.
About IGNOU DECE Course Detail For Admission 2026
DECE stands for diploma in early childhood care and education. It is a 1 year and 2 semester diploma course offered in open and distance learning mode. IGNOU offers DECE under the school of continuing education in English, Hindi, Odia and Tamil medium. Students need to secure a total 32 credits to successfully complete the DECE program. This program is suited for individuals working in the sector of early childhood care and education, wanting to upgrade their skills and knowledge. Which will enable learners to foster the development of young minds aged between birth to 6 years. For more details, contact Prof. Rekha Sharma Sen via
Highlighted Table of IGNOU DECE Program
| Highlights | Details |
| Program name | Diploma in childhood care and education |
| Duration | Minimum one year and maximum three years |
| Course type | Diploma |
| Eligibility | 10+2 passed or equivalent |
| Mode of admission | Merit based |
| Medium | English, Hindi & Tamil |
| Course fee | INR 3,500/- |
| Mode of examination | Year wise |
| Approved by | UGC-DEB |
IGNOU DECE Program Admission Process 2026
Indira Gandhi national open university admission process 2026 is being conducted online for the DECE program. Students are advised to read important guidelines and process before filling the application form.
- First register yourselves on https://ignouadmission.samarth.edu.in/ portal.
- Regret with active mobile number and email ID.
- Username and password will be mail or sms.
- Login with the credentials(username and password).
- Fill the admission form with personal and academic qualification details.
- Select the desired program and fill out course details carefully.
- Upload relevant documents including scanned signature and photograph.
- Confirms all the details after careful review.
- Make payment of application fee online via net banking, credit card or debit card or through UPI.
- Submit the form after you receive payment confirmation mail or sms.
- Download and print out the online application form.
Eligibility Criteria For IGNOU DECE Admission 2026
IGNOU has flexible admission rules for applicants wanting to pursue a diploma in childhood care and education program. To be eligible for admission, students have to pass their 10+2 examination or equivalent from a recognized educational board. Selection will be based on the merit score in the qualifying examination. Also, the program will be delivered in English, Hindi, Tamil medium including the study material. Hence students must have proficiency in the given languages. IGNOU do not have specific age requirements, hence individuals from any age group are welcome to apply for the DECE program.
IGNOU DECE Admission: Documents To Be Submitted
At the time of admission, Indira Gandhi national open university requires students to scan original documents and upload them in the mentioned size and format. Documents required are:
- 10th certificate and marksheet.
- 12th standard marksheet and passing certificate.
- Caste or category certificate if applicable.
- Experience certificate if applicable.
- identity proof such as voter ID, ancard or Aadhaar card.
- Recent colored passport size photo.
- Migration certificate.
IGNOU DECE Course Admission Fees 2026
Students who want to pursue a diploma in childhood care and education in distance mode with an affordable course fee can apply to IGNOU Admission. IGNOU offers a budget-friendly fee structure, which includes programme and other applicable charges. Before applying, applicants are advised to review the detailed IGNOU DECE fee structure and admission guidelines for the July 2026 session. All the fees are payable online via gateways provided by the university. Let us check out the detailed fee structure of the DECE program.
| Particulars | fees |
| Program fee | INR 3,500/- |
| Registration fee | INR 300/- |
| Per theory Examination fee | INR 200/- |
| Development fee | INR 400/- |
| Late fee | INR 200/- |
How To Check IGNOU DECE Result
Once students submit their assignment, practicals or finish their term end examination, they can check their result online on IGNOU website. Also if students are not satisfied with the result they can apply for admission 2026 re-evaluation with a fee of INR 750/- per course. Results allow students to examine their progress and analyse where more improvement and focus is required.
To check IGNOU result for DECE program, follow the steps given below:
- Visit IGNOU website and click on students service.
- Click on terms end examination result or reevaluation result as per choice.
- Student login will appear.
- In result for section – select either TEE or re-evaluation.
- Next in term end examination result for part- june or december 2026 exam result will appear.
- Enter a 10 digit enrollment number.
- Click on the submit button.
- Now your result will appear on the screen.
- You can download or print the result for reference.
IGNOU DECE Course Admission 2026 Syllabus
To successfully complete the IGNOU diploma in childhood care and education program, students need to get a total of 32 credits. For this program project is a vital component. Copies project will be rejected by the university, hence every student is advised to do original project work.
Refer to IGNOU DECE course syllabus given below.
| Program code | Program name | Credits |
| DECE 1 | Organizing Child Care Services | 8 |
| DECE 2 | Child Health and Nutrition | 8 |
| DECE 3 | Services and Programmes for Children | 8 |
| DECE 4 | Project Work: Working with Young Children in a Child Care Setting | 8 |
| Total credits | 32 | |
IGNOU DECE Assignment For Admission 2026
Universities will upload the current assignment from the DECE program online. However, students can also access all assignments online. Assignments have to be downloaded and submitted to the coordinator of the respective study center or regional center after completing them. Also, no assignment will be accepted via mail. The front page of the DECE assignment should contain enrollment number, name, address on top right of the sheet, and program title, course code, course title, assignment number, study center code, phone number, email id, date and signature on the lower left side of the sheet.
Also it is important to read assignment related instructions on how and where to submit. The university has the right to reject the assignment if submitted after the given date. Which will result in learners not able to appear for the term-end examination.
IGNOU DECE Admission FAQ :-
Q1. What is the scope of DECE Admission 2026?
Ans:- The Diploma in Early Childhood Care and Education (DECE) equips individuals to foster the holistic development of children up to six years of age. It opens doors to rewarding careers in preschool teaching, daycare management, and child welfare, offering a clear pathway for independent entrepreneurship in the education sector.
Q2. What is the date of DECE admission in 2026?
Ans:- The IGNOU DECE (Diploma in Early Childhood Care and Education) admission for the July 2026 academic session is currently open. The last date to Enroll the registration form for this session is 15th July 2026.
You can Also check These Pages
