ADULT EDUCATION
National Literacy Mission 8.1.1 Literacy is a major component of Human resource Development and is basic to any programme of social and economic progress. Development can never become self-sustaining unless it is accompanied by corresponding changes in the attitude, value, knowledge, and skills of people as a whole. The only way this change can be accomplished is through education and literacy is the first step towards education. The National Literacy Mission was set up in 1988 with the goal of making 80 million people literate by 1995. The Total Literacy Campaigns is the dominant strategy for achieving the literacy goals of the nation. The Indian experience in literacy has aroused the interest of the international community and has become the role model for many Asian and South Asian countries. At the national level the aim is to consolidate the gains of literacy and to concentrate efforts in the four major Hindi speaking States in the Hindi heartland where the bulk of the illiterate population resides.
8.1.2 The Mission which was set up with the objective of imparting literacy to 80 million non-literates in the age group 15-35 by the year 1995 has now been set with the goal of covering 100 million non- literates by the year 1999. Children in the age group 9-14 are also included where there are no NFE Centres. The Total Literacy Campaigns have been extended to 417 districts in the country of which 178 have entered post literacy phase. An estimated 90 million learners have been enrolled in the programme and 56 million are reported to have been made literate. A number of programmes were taken up under the NLM this year which include
(i) A national workshop to review the UNFPA funded Population Education Project and to decide on future perspectives, issues and strategies for the implementation of the project in the 3rd phase from 1997-2001 was organised on 27-28 May at Kodaikanal, Tamil Nadu.
(ii) A regional workshop on the Scheme of Continuing Education for neo literates was held from 26-28 June, 1996 at Hyderabad.
(iii) As part of the International Literacy Day celebrations, a Saksharta Utsav was held in New Delhi on 7th September, 1996.
(iv) On the occasion of the 30th International Literacy Day on 8th September, 1996 in New Delhi, two books, viz. 'Women and Literacy' and 'Our Hopes and Our Dreams In Our Words' were presented to the President of India.
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(v) A Conference of Chairpersons/Directors of State Resource Centres was held in New Delhi on 24th and 25th September, 1996.
(vi) A SAARC Conference of Voluntary Agencies working in the field of Literacy and Continuing Education was held from 14- 16 October, 1996 in New Delhi in which representatives from the countries of Nepal, Bangladesh, Pakistan and Sri Lanka participated.
(vii) The second National Conference of State/UT Directors of Adult/Mass Education was held in New Delhi on 17-18 October, 1996.
(viii) A SAARC Conference of Voluntary Agencies working in the field of literacy and Continuing Education was held from 14-16 October, 1996 in New Delhi in which representatives from the countries of Nepal, Bangladesh, Pakistan, Sri Lanka and India participated.
(ix) In collaboration with State Resource Centre, Bhubaneshwar, ACCU UNESCO held its 14th Regional Workshop on the preparation of literacy follow up materials for adults in rural areas in Asia and the Pacific in Bhubaneshwar, Orissa from 12th to 23rd November, 1996.
x An orientation workshop for literacy consultants on Operation Restoration on TLC/PLC projects was held in New Delhi on 29-30th November, 1996.
(xi) In collaboration with the Govt. of Maharashtra and Sahas (Saksharta Hak Samiti), Greater Bombay, National Literacy Mission organised a National Conference on Urban Literacy Campaign in Indian context on 27th and 28th December, 1996 in Mumbai, Maharashtra.
"Special Projects for Education of Illiteracy-TLC/PLCs" 8.1.3 National Literacy Mission Authority set a target of making 100 million citizens functionally literate in the age-group of 9- 35 by the end of 1999
8.1.4 The Total Literacy Campaign (TLC) is the principal strategy of the NLM for eradication of illiteracy in the country. The literacy campaigns under the Scheme are area-specific, time-bound, delivered through voluntarism, cost-effective & outcome-oriented, and are implemented by Zilla Saksharata Samitis usually headed by District Collectors.
8.1.5 The campaigns are initiated with appropriate environment- building activity coupled with a door-to-door literacy survey during which potential learners and volunteers are identified. Suitable primers are developed and primer-specific training is provided to the required personnel. The environment-building activity as well as
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monitoring and internal evaluation are continued through the teaching/learning activity which accounts for a total of 200 hours spread over a period of 6 months. An external evaluation is made at the conclusion of the teaching.
8.1.6 After completion of the TLC, Post Literacy Campaign (PLC) is launched to mop up the left-over illiterates to consolidate the gains of literacy acquired during TLC, and to enable the neo-literates to develop abilities for self-learning.
8.1.7 The literacy campaigns are implemented through direct funding to the ZSS by the Central and State Governments in the ratio of 2:1 However, for districts under Tribal Sub Plan their Ratio is 4:1.
81.8 Implementation of TLCs in various parts of the country has evoked an enthusiastic response from the weaker sections of the society, especially the Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes. Experience has also shown that more than 60% of the learners attending classes are women. The number of TLC/PLC projects have covered 417 and 178 districts either fully or partially in the States of Andhra Pradesh, Assam, Bihar, Delhi, Goa, Gujarat, Haryana, Himachal Pradesh, Jammu & Kashmir, Karnataka, Maharashtra, Madhya Pradesh, Manipur, Meghalaya, Orissa, Rajasthan, Tamil Nadu, Tripura, Uttar Pradesh, West Bengal and the U.Ts. of Chandigarh, Daman & Diu, Dadra & Nagar Haveli and Pondicherry:
8.1.9 The focus of the Total Literacy Campaigns has now shifted to the Hindi speaking areas where bulk of the illiterate population resides. So far 172 districts under TLC and 32 districts under PLC have been sanctioned in the four major Hindi speaking States of Bihar, Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan and Uttar Pradesh. Besides, the special measures taken under NLM in these four States are as under:
i) Sensitization workshops for collectors and other officials and non-officials involved in literacy campaigns and similar workshops for writers and media personnel for sensitization on literacy issues are organised regularly.
ii) The State Governments have been reviewing the progress of literacy campaigns, with a view to improving the implementation of the projects.
iii) The State Resource Centres of all the four States have been strengthened and their financial assistance augmented.
Rural Functional Literacy Project 8.2.0 The centre based Rural Functional Literacy Programme has been phased out with effect from April 1991 except in States/UTs of Jammu & Kashmir, North Eastern States, Sikkim, border districts of Rajasthan under the Border Area Project
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and Dadra & Nagar Haveli. These areas have relatively low literacy rates as well as extremely difficult terrain, hindering communication and mobility. During 1995-96, no viable proposals were received. Most of the projects sanctioned during 1994-95 have been carried over to 1995-96 for implementation.
Shramik Vidhyapeeths 8.3.0 The Shramik Vidhyapeeths represent an institutional framework for offering non-formal, adult and continuing educational and polyvalent training programme to industrial workers. Shramik Vidhyapeeths are working under the auspices of State Governments/Universities/Voluntary Agencies. During 1996-97, 53 Sharmik Vidhyapeeths are in operation, 44 in voluntary sector and remaining 9 are under State Government / Central Government.
Scheme of Continuing Education for Neo-Literates 8.4.0 The National Literacy Mission (NLM) lays specific emphasis on Continuing Education for Neo-literates which is the modified form of the Scheme of Post Literacy and Continuing Education, launched in March 1988.The basic objectives of the scheme of Continuing Education are:-
i) Provisions of facilities for retention of literacy skills and continuing education to enable the learners to continue their learning beyond literacy stage.
ii) Creating scope for application of functional literacy for improvement of living conditions and quality of life.
iii) Dissemination of information on development programmes and widening and improving participation of traditional deprived sections of the society.
iv) Creation of awareness about national concerns such as national integration, conservation and improvement of the environment, Women's equality, observance of small family norms and sharing of common problems of the community.
V) Improvement of economic conditions and general well being through short duration training courses for providing vocational skills and linkages between continuing education and developmental activities.
vi) Provision of facilities for library and reading rooms for creating an environment conducive for literacy efforts.
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Voluntary Agencies 8.5.1 The Scheme of financial assistance to Voluntary Agencies working in the field of Adult Education continued to encourage and provide financial assistance to the nongovernmental organisations who are considered to be the partners in achieving the goals of the National Literacy Mission.
8.5.2 The main objectives of the Scheme is to provide financial assistance to voluntary agencies for their involvement in the following activities:-
- Implementation of time-bound, area specific, result oriented and voluntary based literacy projects.
- To take responsibility in well defined non-ZSS areas for eradication of illiteracy and running of post literacy and continuing education programmes etc.
To take up innovative and experimental projects, environment building activities including Organisation of seminars and conferences etc.
8.5.3 The scheme is continuing with its endeavor to encourage greater participation of voluntary agencies in the adult education programmes.
Directorate Of Adult Education 8.6.1 The Directorate of Adult Education (DAE), a subordinate office of the Department of Education, continued to function as the National Resource Centre in the field of Adult Education and Literacy campaigns. The Directorate has different units with identified professional and administrative functions. The main activities of the Directorate during the year were as under:
A Preparation of Materials And Surveillance 1. The Directorate organised 12 monthly meetings of the Improved Pace and Content of learning (IPCL) Advisory Committee for review of the teaching learning materials, developed by the SRCs/RRCs, TLC Districts and other related agencies concerned. Guidelines were laid down for preparation of materials for Basic literacy, Post literacy and Continuing Education Programmes.
2. Training and orientation workshops for writers and artists were organised at Bhubaneswar, Itanagar, Dimapur, Leh and Imphal for orientation of writers in techniques of designing IPCL materials plus
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preparation of sample material in Assamese, English, Dogri, Urdu, Kashmiri, Bodhi and other tribal languages.
3. Three regional workshops were organised at Mysore, Gangtok and Ahmedabad for Assessment of Population Education Components integrated in the Basic Literacy, Post Literacy, and Continuing Education materials and preparation of supplementary materials on the messages not adequately covered in the serials so far.
4. One national workshop was organised at Udaipur in collaboration with the SRC, Jaipur as follow-up programme of the Nepal Workshop of Asian Cultural Centre for Unesco (ACCU) Japan on Developing Basic Literacy Materials for Women & Girls in Asia & Pacific.
National Literacy Resource Centre, Mussoorie 8.6.2 With a view to strengthen training of district level functionaries, a National Literacy Resource Centre has been established under the aegis of Lal Bahadur Shastri Academy of Administration, Mussoorie. This Resource Centre has become operational and started organising training and orientation programmes for district administrators, functionaries of Zilla Saksharata Samitis and Panchayati Raj Institutions. The Directorate is collaborating with the centre by providing resource support in Organisation of training and orientation programmes.b
Training 8.6.3 Training support was provided for implementation of Literacy Campaigns at the national level to the concerned agencies, viz State Resource Centres, State Directorates of Adult/Mass Education, Voluntary Agencies, selected District Institute of Education and Training, Zilla Saksharata Samitis and other organisations related to promotion of literacy campaigns in the country. Increased emphasis is given to systematic and decentralize the training efforts at all levels in order to make the training more relevant, and local specific. One innovation orientation programme for the 37 Trainers of DRUs was organised on 10-14th June, 1996 at Gujarat Vidhyapeeth, Ahmedabad.
8.6.4 Literacy Campaigns were taken up to cover 417 districts. As the learners identified were around 105 million and 178 districts were sanctioned to take care of post literacy measures, training strategy needed certain qualitative change.
8.6.5 As 37% of the non-literates have achieved NLM norms, efforts are being taken to strengthen post literacy measures followed by continuing education programmes. Under Operation Restoration new approaches, new methodologies are
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being evolved to take up special training programmes/workshops covering key resource persons and the associated professionals at the State and district levels.
Monitoring And Evaluation 8.6.6 Monitoring of literacy campaigns is one of the important activities of the Directorate.
8.6.7 In order to ensure reliability as well as steady flow of information in literacy campaigns, the State, Directorate of Adult Education (SDAEs) have been asked to monitor literacy campaigns. The Directorate has taken steps to strengthen the monitoring system by involving State Directorates in regular monitoring of the progress of literacy campaigns in each of the districts. Detailed guidelines were evolved and issued by the Directorate for strengthening of monitoring system under these guidelines. SDAEs are required to hold monthly meeting in which the presence of Secretary, Zilla Saksharata Samitis, Director, SRC and other resources persons has been made mandatory. The State Directorates are now required to consolidate the district reports at the state level and forward the same to the Central Directorate of Adult Education, which is to examine critically these reports and submit feedback to the State Directorate.
8.6.8 The Status Reports of Literacy and Post Literacy Campaigns are brought out at the end of each quarter.
8.6.9 A two day conference of Directors of Adult Education/Mass Education was organised on 17th & 18th October' 96 at New Delhi to reorient State Directorates about changed strategy of monitoring and review of literacy campaigns, computerisation SDAEs, concurrent evaluation, etc.
8.6.10 A meeting of selected State Directorates of Adult Education of Andhra Pradesh, Assam, Bihar, Himachal Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra, Rajasthan, Uttar Pradesh and West Bengal was organised on 20th November' 96 to review progress made on the decision taken in the last conference.
8.6.11 A National Conference of Urban Literacy Campaigns has been organised on December 27 & 28, 1996 at Bombay to discuss strategies for involvement of urban community, literacy strategies for shifting and migrant population, linkages with Development Departments of Government and Municipal Corporations, training strategies, urban based teaching-learning materials role of media etc.
8.6.12 A SAARC Conference of Voluntary Agencies working in the field of Literacy & Continuing Education was held at New Delhi from October 1416, 1996. It was attended by eight NGO representatives from Bangladesh, Nepal and India as well as by representatives of High Commissions of Pakistan, Bhutan, and Sri Lanka.
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Evaluation 8.6.13 With a view to ensuring effective implementation of the literacy campaigns the NLM has now introduced more meaningful and rigorous evaluation system.
8.6.14 Each literacy campaign is now required to take up concurrent evaluation of the ongoing programme through an outside agency nominated by the State Directorates of Adult Education. The State Directorates have been asked to empanel agencies for undertaking concurrent evaluation. Concurrent evaluation alms at quick mid-term appraisal of a project to assess the strengths and weaknesses of an ongoing programme and to identify correctives for improvement of the programme.
8.6.15 Guidelines on Concurrent Evaluation were evolved and circulated to all literacy campaign districts and State Directorates.