Context: The Ministry of Education (MoE) has defined ‘literacy,’ and what it means to achieve ‘full literacy,’ in the light of the renewed push for adult literacy under the New India Literacy Programme (NILP).
Definition of literacy and full literacy
- Literacy: May be understood as the ability to read, write, and compute with comprehension, i.e. to identify, understand, interpret and create along with critical life skills such as digital literacy, financial literacy etc.
- Full literacy: To be considered equivalent to 100% literacy, will be achieving 95% literacy in a State/UT that may be considered as equivalent to fully literate.
Criteria for literacy certification:
- Non-literate person may be considered as literate under the NILP, when she/he has been declared literate after taking the Foundational Literacy and Numeracy Assessment Test (FLNAT).
Significant challenge associated with literacy in India:
- According to the Census 2011, with 25.76 crore non-literate individuals in the 15 years and above age group, comprising 9.08 crore males and 16.68 crore females.
- Despite the progress made under the Saakshar Bharat programme, which certified 7.64 crore individuals as literate between 2009-10 and 2017-18, an estimated 18.12 crore adults in India remain non-literate.
Non-literate individuals face disadvantages in various aspects of life such as financial transactions, job applications, comprehension of media and technology, understanding of rights and participation in higher productivity sectors.
About New India Literacy Programme (NILP):
- Type of scheme: Centrally Sponsored Scheme.
- Aim: The goal is to impart foundational literacy and numeracy to one crore learners aged 15 years and above across all states and union territories each year from FY 2022-27.
Key features:
- Also known as ULLAS (Understanding of Lifelong Learning for All in Society).
- Also to cover all the aspects of Adult Education to align with National Education Policy 2020 has been approved.
- Implemented through volunteer teachers, students of schools and Higher Education Institutions and Teacher Education Institution.
- 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).