Context
Recently, the Government approved a new scheme “New India Literacy Programme” for the period FYs 2022-2027 to cover all the aspects of Adult Education to align with National Education Policy 2020.
- The government has also decided to use the term “Education For All” in place of “Adult Education.”
- This is because the terminology “Adult Education” is not appropriately incorporating all non-literates of 15 years and above age group.
About the New India Literacy Programme (NILP)
- The New India Literacy Programme is implemented by the Ministry of Education in convergence with various Ministries and Departments to implement the scheme.
- It is a Centrally Sponsored Scheme.
- The scheme will be implemented through volunteerism through online mode.
- The training, orientation, workshops of volunteers, maybe organised through face-to-face mode.
- The Objective of this Programme to impart not only foundational literacy and numeracy but also to cover other components which are necessary for a citizen of the 21st century. Such as-
- Critical life skills (financial literacy, digital literacy, commercial skills, health care and awareness, child care and education, and family welfare)
- Vocational skills (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, etc and recreation, as well as other topics of interest or use to local learners).
- The scheme will cover non-literates of the age of 15 years and above in all states/UTs.
- The target for Foundational Literacy and Numeracy for FYs 2022-27 is 5 crore learners at one crore per year by using “Online Teaching, Learning and Assessment System (OTLAS).”
Status of Adult illiteracy in India
- As per Census 2011, the absolute number of non-literates of the country in 15 years and above age group is 25.76 crore.
- About 7.64 crore persons are certified as literates under the Saakshar Bharat programme.
- Hence, it is estimated that currently, around 18.12 crore adults are still non-literate in India.
