Government approves New India Literacy Programme for Financial Years 2022 to 2027
- Government approved a new scheme New India Literacy Programme for the period Financial Years 2022 to 2027 to cover all the aspects of Adult Education to align with National Education Policy 2020 and Budget Announcements 2021-22.
- The National Education Policy 2020 has recommendations for Adult Education and Lifelong Learning. The Union Budget 2021-22, announcement had been made to enable increased access of resources, online modules covering the entire gamut of adult education will be introduced.
- The objective 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. It includes 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 through volunteerism through online mode. The training, orientation, workshops of volunteers, may be organized through face-to-face mode. 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 or open-source Apps or portals etc.
- The scheme will cover non-literates of the age of 15 years and above in all states and UTs in the country. The target for Foundational Literacy and Numeracy for Financial Years 2022 to 2027 is five crore learners @ 1.00 crore per year by using Online Teaching, Learning and Assessment System OTLAS in collaboration with National Informatics Centre, NCERT and NIOS in which a learner may register him or herself with essential information like name, date of birth, gender, Aadhaar number, mobile number etc.
- The estimated total outlay of New India Literacy Programme is over one thousand 37 crore rupees which includes Central share of 700 crore rupees and State share of over 337 crore.
- School will be Unit for implementation of the scheme. Schools to be used for conducting surveys of beneficiaries and Voluntary Teachers. Different strategies are to be adopted for different age cohorts. Flexibility for States and 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.
- There will be use of technologies to impart Adult Education for wider coverage of the scheme. Performance Grading Index for State and 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 the UDISE portal.
- CSR or 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.
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