EDUCATION FOR ALL

 Centre Approves 'New India Literacy Programme' For FYs 2022-2027

In a bid to educate more and more people and to cover all aspects of adult education to align with the National Education Policy 2020, the central government has launched a new scheme, the "New India Literacy Programme," for the period FYs 2022–2027. The Nation's Education Policy NEP) 2020 aims to cover "Adult Education and Lifelong Learning". “As a progressive step, it has also been decided that from now onwards that the term “Education For All” will be used in place of “Adult Education” by the Ministry in view of the fact that the terminology “Adult Education” is not incorporating appropriately all non-literates of 15 years and above age group.

                The number of non-literates in the country in the age group of 15 years and above was 25.76 crore (9.08 crore male and 16.68 crore female) according to the 2011 census. Currently, an estimated 18.12 crore adults in the country are illiterate. The objectives of the scheme is to impart not only foundational literacy and numeracy but also to cover other components which are necessary for a citizen of 21st century such as critical life skills including financial literacy, digital literacy, commercial skills, health care and awareness, child care and education, and family welfare); vocational skills development with a view towards obtaining local employment); basic education including preparatory, middle, and secondary stage equivalency. And continuing education including engaging holistic adult education courses in arts, sciences, technology, culture, sports, and recreation, as well as other topics of interest or use to local learners, such as more advanced material on critical life skills.

                The scheme will be implemented online. Three crore students of around 7 lakh schools registered under UDISE (Unified District Information System for Education) and around 50 lakh teachers of government, aided and private schools will participate as volunteers. Around 20 lakh students from teacher education and higher education institutions will be actively involved as volunteers. Anganwadi workers, ASHA workers, PRIs; and around 50 lakh NYSK, NSS and NCC workers will extend their support to the programme. The estimated total outlay of the programme is Rs 1,037.90 crore which includes central share of Rs 700 crore and State share of Rs 337.90 crore for the FYs 2022 -27. While the states and union territories will be provided flexibility to undertake innovative activities, school will be unit for implementation of the scheme and will be used for conducting survey of beneficiaries and voluntary teachers.

                                                   Salient features of the scheme are:

–School will be Unit for implementation of the scheme;

–Schools to be used for conducting a survey of beneficiaries and Voluntary Teachers (VTs);

–Different strategies are to be adopted for different age cohorts. Flexibility for States/UTs will be provided to undertake innovative activities;

–Foundational Literacy and Numeracy will be imparted through Critical Life Skills to all non-literates in the age group of 15 years and above;

–Use of Technologies to impart Adult Education for wider coverage of the scheme;

–The performance Grading Index (PGI) for State/UT and district level will show the performance of States and UTs to implement the scheme and achievements on yearly basis by weighing both the physical and financial progress through UDISE portal; and

–CSR/Philanthropic Support may be received by hosting ICT support, providing volunteer support, opening facilitation centres for learners and for providing IT access to economically weak learners in the form of cell phones, etc.