For the period of the fiscal year 2022-2027, the Ministry of Education has approved a new scheme called the ‘New India Literacy Programme’ to cover all the aspects of Adult Education to align with National Education Policy 2020. The estimated total outlay of the scheme is Rs.1037.90 crore which includes the Central share of Rs. 700 crore and State share of Rs. 337.90 crore respectively for the FYs 2022-27. The term “Adult Education” will be replaced by “Education For All”.
The program will include Non-literates of the age of 15 years and above in all states/UTs in the country. Target is 5 crore learners at 1 crore per year by using “Online Teaching, Learning and Assessment System (OTLAS)” in collaboration with National Informatics Centre, NCERT, and NIOS (National Institute of Open Schooling)
The objectives of the New India Literacy Programme
The objectives may fall under two major verticals- first at a central/national level and the rest which may help individual students to improve in their domains;
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1)To impart not only foundational literacy and numeracy but also to cover other components which are necessary for a citizen of the 21st century.
2) Set of Life Skills includes critical thinking and a broad scope of rationality. This will include financial literacy, digital literacy, commercial skills, health care and awareness, child care and education, and family welfare.
3)Stress of Vocational Subjects: Present-day schools barely focus on vocational training and education for a child. It may include vocational skills development (to obtain local employment).
4) Advanced Material on Critical skill sets: 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.
5)Kind of education that will be provided on the following stage equivalency: Preparatory stage, Middle stage, Secondary stage.
Scheme to be implemented through volunteerism
The scheme will be implemented through volunteerism online mode. The training, orientation, workshops of volunteers, maybe organized through face-to-face mode,”
A senior MoE official said. All material and resources shall be provided digitally for easy access to registered volunteers through easily accessible digital modes like TV, radio, cell phone-based free, open-source apps, and portals. What will be conducted on grounds, in offline mode? Training, Orientation, Workshops for volunteers.
Following are the Volunteering chains-
- Around 20 lakh students from higher education Institutions.
- Panchayati Raj Institutions (PRIs).
- Anganwadi workers.
- Accredited Social Health Activists (ASHAs).
- Around 50 lakhs Nehru Yuva Kendra Sangathan (NYSK), National Service Scheme (NSS), and National Cadet Corps (NCC) volunteers.
- Philanthropic/corporate social responsibility
organization.
The estimated total outlay of the “New India Literacy Programme” is Rs 1037.90 crore which includes a Central share of Rs 700 crore and a state share of Rs 337.90 crore respectively While the states and union territories will be provided flexibility to undertake innovative activities, schools will be unit for implementation of the scheme and will be used for surveying beneficiaries and voluntary teachers.
However, there is no concrete information on how the registration process will work out.
Way Forward
There is a need for real emancipation of the people. Education systems across the world should provide the training required for children and working adults so that they can learn to read and write. Also, the development of conscience which may help in decision-making processes. National educational plans should include schooling for children and literacy training for adults as parallel elements.
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