IGNOU DECE Admission 2026: Last Date, Fees, Eligibility, Course-wise Syllabus

What is IGNOU DECE?

Before we delve into the IGNOU DECE admission, let's first understand what the IGNOU DECE programme entails. The Diploma in Early Childhood Care and Education is a programme for continuous knowledge and skills up-gradation for those working in the sector of Early Childhood Care and Education. It is a unique holistic package that equips the learner to foster the holistic development of young children (i.e., children from birth to 6 years of age) and will be of interest to those who are working with children in birth to six age groups in diverse settings, such as creches, preschools, pre-primary classes, nursery schools; those managing such early childhood care and education centres; parents and others interested in knowing about the development of young children.

IGNOU DECE Admission 2026 - Highlights

IGNOU DECE Admission 2026: Important Dates

IGNOU DECE Eligibility Criteria

Candidates who want to get admission at IGNOU DECE should meet the eligibility criteria before applying. The IGNOU DECE 2026 eligibility criteria show the minimum qualifications that candidates must have to get admission. Eligibility criteria for IGNOU DECE are as follows:

1. Educational Qualification: Candidates must have completed the Class 10+2 from a recognised board.

2. Minimum Marks: Aspirants must have 50% marks for general category and 45% marks for SC/ST and other reserved categories.

3. Age Limit: There is no age limit for IGNOU DECE course.

IGNOU DECE 2026 Application Process

IGNOU will release the IGNOU DECE January application form in December 2025 on its official website. Aspirants who are interested to get IGNOU DECE admission have to fill the application form before the IGNOU DECE admission 2026 last date. Candidates must provide their email ID, mobile number and all the important information while filling the IGNOU DECE admission form 2026.

How to Apply for IGNOU DECE Admission 2026

Candidates can only complete the IGNOU DECE January application form by visiting the official website. The steps to filling out the IGNOU DECE 2026 application form are outlined below.

Step 1 - IGNOU DECE Registration

• Enter your email address and mobile number on the IGNOU official website.

• A confirmation code will be sent to the candidate's mobile number and an email will be sent to their email address.

• To finish the registration process, click the link in the email to confirm your registration and input the validation code.

Step 2 - Fill the Application Form

• Select the 'Application Forms' tab from the "My Application" section.

• Login by using username and password.

• Fill in all of the details under 'Applicant Details.'

• After clicking on 'Save,' click on the 'Save and Continue' option.

Step 4 - IGNOU DECE Application Fee

• To pay the IGNOU DECE application fee for 2026, click 'Proceed for Submissions and Payments.'

• Net banking, credit card, or debit card can all be used to make an online payment.

IGNOU DECE admission fees

The DECE programme at IGNOU has a fee of Rs. 3000. The fee includes study materials and registration, but additional charges may apply for exams or projects. IGNOU DECE 2026 registration fee is Rs. 300.

Step 3 - Upload Documents

Candidates must provide scanned images of their passport-size photo and signature in accordance with the instructions below.

IGNOU DECE Documents Specifications

• The scanned copy of the passport size photograph should be coloured and in jpeg/ .jpg format and its size should be 100 kb.

• The scanned copy of the signature should be in jpeg/ .jpg format and its size should be 100 kb.

List of IGNOU DECE Documents

The following is information on the documents that must be submitted throughout the IGNOU DECE 2026 application process.

• Class 10+2 marks sheets

• Passport size photograph

• Signature

• Proof of identity (Aadhaar card, voter ID, passport)

• Caste or category certificate (if applicable)

• Sports certificate (if needed)

IGNOU DECE Course Syllabus 2026

Aspirants interested in taking admission at Diploma in Early Childhood Care and Education Program (DECE) should check the IGNOU DECE 2026 syllabus. Below we have provided the syllabus of IGNOU DECE along with the credits.

IGNOU DECE 2026 Result

The IGNOU will release the results for term end examinations, projects and assignments on its official website. Candidates can check their IGNOU DECE result by using their login credentials. IGNOU DECE result 2026 will be declared on the official website - ignou.ac.in. The students are also advised to check the IGNOU DECE grade card along with the term end results. The IGNOU DECE result grade card contains details regarding the candidate’s name, enrolment id, maximum marks obtained, total marks and rank obtained in the examinations.

IGNOU DECE Career Opportunities

Upon successful completion of the IGNOU DECE programme, graduates can explore a wide range of career opportunities in the field of early childhood education. Some of the potential career paths include:

• Preschool Teacher

• Childcare Worker

• Child Development Specialist

• Parent Educator

IGNOU Helpline Contact Number

IGNOU enrolling candidates can contact the Student Service team if they have any queries regarding IGNOU DECE admission. Students can contact these helpline numbers for any kind of IGNOU – 29572209, 29572202, or 29532088.