The Department of School Education and Literacy (DoSEL), Ministry of Education, Government of India organized a two-day National Workshop on Content of Teaching-Learning Material and Assessment under New India Literacy Programme (NILP) on 6th and 7th February, 2023 at India Habitat Centre, New Delhi.
Secretary, Department of School Education and Literacy, Govt. of India, Shri Sanjay Kumar inaugurated the workshop. Joint Secretary DoSEL Smt. Archana Awasthi Sharma; Director, Adult Education Bureau, Shri M.C.Worthing; Incharge-Cell for National Centre for Literacy, Prof. Usha Sharma, 150 academicians and functionaries from State Literacy Mission Authority, State Council for Educational Research and Training from all over India and Universities from Delhi attended the workshop.
In his inaugural address, Shri Sanjay Kumar emphasized on adopting innovative approaches to reach out to non-literate learners with efficient use of time and resources. Smt. Archana Sharma Awasthi highlighted the importance of making NILP a success with active participation of all stakeholders and importance of right content of teaching learning in local languages. Prof. Usha Sharma briefed on methodology and approach adopted by CNCL while developing NILP resource materials and assessment material per social and cultural relevance of States and UTs.
Session based interactive deliberations by CNCL and NIOS professionals, group discussions and feedback from representatives of States & UTs successfully helped in achieving the objectives of the workshop.
Smt. Harshika Singh, Collector Mandla (MP) explained the model of survey and imparting literacy to non-literate learners which was well received. Suggestions to implement New India Literacy Programme in both face-to-face and on-line mode by developing resource materials suitable for digital as well as print purposes were given after extensive group discussions. All present were encouraged to come together and commit towards nation building.
The Government of India has started a new scheme of Education for All (erstwhile Adult Education) with a vision to support the States and Union Territories in promoting literacy among non-literates in the age group of 15 and above, across the country covering 5 crore non-literates during the implementation period from 2022-23 to 2026-27 for eradicating illiteracy in the country. The scheme is aligned with the National Education Policy 2020 with the mandate on “Strong and innovative government initiatives for adult education – in particular, to facilitate community involvement and the smooth and beneficial integration of technology – will be affected as soon as possible to expedite this all-important aim of achieving 100% literacy”. It has five components namely, Foundational Literacy and Numeracy, Critical Life Skills, Vocational Skills Development, Basic Education and Continuing Education.
The scheme is to be implemented through volunteerism. The learners will be encouraged to access the content in local languages in online mode through DIKSHA platform in NCERT. Government/Aided schools registered under UDISE are the units of implementation of the scheme which are run by the State/UT Governments. The scheme is to reach out to the age cohorts of 15-35 who are to be saturated first. Priority is given to girls and women, SC/ST/OBC/Minorities, Persons with Special Needs/ Divyangjans Marginalized/ Nomadics/ construction workers/ labourers, etc and who can substantially and immediately benefit from adult education. In terms of location/area, scheme is focused on all Aspirational Districts of NITI Aayog, districts with literacy rates less than the National/State average, districts with female literacy rates less than 60% as per the 2011 Census, districts/ blocks with large SC/ST/ Minority population. Educationally Backward Blocks and Left Wing Extremism Affected districts will also be covered.
