The Ministry of Education (MoE) has issued new guidelines defining ‘literacy’ and ‘full literacy’ while renewing its efforts to improve adult literacy under the New India Literacy Programme (NILP).
Definition of Literacy and Full Literacy
- Literacy: Ability to read, write, and compute with comprehension, including critical life skills such as digital and financial literacy.
- Full Literacy: Achieving 95% literacy in a State/UT, considered equivalent to full literacy.
About New India Literacy Programme (NILP)
- Objective: Focus on adults aged 15 years and above, with a special emphasis on females and educationally backward states.
- Also Known As: ULLAS (Understanding of Lifelong Learning for All in Society).
- Type: Centrally Sponsored Scheme.
- Launched By: Ministry of Education (MoE).
- Duration: 2022-2027 (5 years).
Objectives:
- Target all non–literates aged 15 years and above.
- Focus on females and educationally backward states.
- Aim to onboard 5 crore learners (1 crore annually).
Implementation:
- Utilizes OTLAS (Online Teaching, Learning, and Assessment System) in collaboration with the National Informatics Centre, NCERT, and NIOS.
- Volunteers, school students, higher education students, and teacher education institutions will aid in execution.
Literacy Challenge
- Census 2011 Data: India has 25.76 crore non-literate individuals aged 15 years and above, with a gender disparity of 9.08 crore males and 16.68 crore females.
- Past Efforts: Saakshar Bharat programme certified 7.64 crore individuals as literate between 2009-10 and 2017-18.
- Current Need: Approximately 18.12 crore adults remain non-literate.
Significance of Literacy
- Impact: Non-literate individuals face challenges in financial transactions, job applications, media comprehension, rights understanding, and participation in higher productivity sectors.
- Call to Action: The Ministry urges States and Union Territories to aim for full literacy by 2030 through the NILP initiative.
Alignment with National and Global Goals
- NEP 2020: Emphasizes adult education and literacy.
- SDG 4.6: Aims to ensure all youth and adults achieve literacy and numeracy by 2030.
Ref: Source
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Frequently Asked Question:
What is the Ministry of Education’s definition of literacy?
The Ministry of Education defines literacy as the ability to read, write, and compute with comprehension, including digital and financial literacy.
How is full literacy defined by the Ministry of Education?
Full literacy is achieved when a State/UT reaches 95% literacy, which is considered equivalent to full literacy.
What is the New India Literacy Programme?
The New India Literacy Programme (NILP) is a centrally sponsored scheme launched by the Ministry of Education to focus on adult literacy, especially among females and in educationally backward states.
What is the objective of the NILP?
The objective of NILP is to target all non-literates aged 15 years and above, with a special focus on females and educationally backward states.
What is the duration of the New India Literacy Programme?
The NILP is set to run for 5 years, from 2022 to 2027, with the aim of improving adult literacy across India.