8.6.16 Besides concurrent evaluation, each literacy campaigns district is now subject to final evaluation towards the end of the project through an independent external evaluation agency nominated by the NLM. A core group was set up by the NLM to identify the agencies who are capable of undertaking external evaluation. The core group has identified 56 agencies for conducting external evaluation.
8.6.17 Reports of external evaluation reports received from literacy campaigns were summarised.
Media Unit 8.6.18 As part of media support of literacy campaigns and other adult education programmes, particularly in the areas of motivation/mobilsation, training, environment building and literacy instruction, production of software and publicity were given the main focus. Specific activities undertaken were as follows:
1. (a) Production of Fourteen video films in various languages viz. Hindi, Oriya, Bengali, Marathi, Gujarati, Telugu and Tamil.
(b) Ten Video spots of the duration ranging from 30 Secs. to 70 Secs. in Hindi.
(c) Presentation of a six projector single screen audio visual titled "TOWARDS A LEARNING SOCIETY" in Hindi (21 mts) and English (18 mts.) It was one of the achievements of the literacy programme.
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2. Ten films were presented to Doordarshan for telecast.
3. VHS copies were provided to 35 District Collectors of Campaign Districts, 15 State Resource Centres, 4 Shramik Vidhyapeeths, 4 State Directorates of Adult Education and 21 voluntary agencies.
4. A one hour radio programme on literacy titled AAO EK DEEP JALAYEN is broadcast on Thursdays from 2 PM to 3 PM on times FM since June 20, 1996. The Programmes are attractively produced with selected cine songs interwoven with literacy messages and quiz. Attractive prizes were also offered through sponsors to encourage listeners.
5. Doordarshan has allotted half an hour chunk for Literacy on Fridays from 12.30 PM to 1 PM on DD-I. Four episodes of the literacy quiz titled AKSHAR MELA were produced and telecast In this chunk from August 23, 1996 in connection with International Literacy Day celebrations. A literacy serial titled EK DOONI DO is being telecast from September 20, 1996 onwards.
6. Attractive spots highlighting learning society are produced and intensively telecast through Doordarshan both at National and Metro Channels
7. Special Ads. were designed and released through DAVP on National Dailies of different languages in connection with International Literacy Day.
8. Literacy Messages are printed on postal stationery.
9. Literacy messages are printed on the computerised railway tickets of Northern Railway.
10. Advertisements are released to the non- newspapers/magazines which are not empanelled with DAVP but have large circulation.
11. Spots are released to closed circuit TV (CCTV) in selected railway stations/airports.
12. News capsules on the post literacy and continuing education in Tamilnadu are produced and telecast from Chennai Doordarshan.
13. Video documentation was done on the main function of International Literacy Day (ILD) and the Saksharta Utsav and the same has been distributed widely in the field.
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14. Curtain Raisers were produced on the ILD and Saksharata Utsav and the same were telecast on DD-I.
15. An action research done on use of media through MODE to improve the production of media software and use of the same in the field.
National Level Competitions 8.6.19 To create a favourable environment for literacy, motivational and mobilization efforts were continued through involvement of artists, writers, students, teachers, photographers, etc. in literacy campaigns. As part of this exercise, national level competitions were organised on Poster Design, Essay Writing and Photography.
8.6.20 The 13th National Poster Competition had attracted 2028 competitors (Artists/Students) to participate in "Literacy for Women's Empowerment" & "Literacy for Better and Happy Life" themes respectively. In respect of the 4th National Photo competition held on the subjects (a) Literacy Empowers, (b) Literacy Messages through folk Arts and (c) Literacy for All' and `All for literacy', 1068 competitors participated from the contiguous of professionals, amateurs and students respectively.
8.6.21 Around 13,242 had participated in the 5th National Essay Competition organised fro students of Sr. Secondary levels, College students, Primary/Secondary teachers and general category people. The themes covered by them in order were (a) Who benefits from Literacy and how ? (b) Literacy on Women's equality and Empowerment (c) Role of Panchyati Raj Institutions in the National Mission for total literacy; and (d) Literacy accelerates the pace of development. The awards were presented to winners by the Hon'ble President of India during ILD celebration held on September 8, 1996
Population Education Unit 8.6.22 This directorate is implementing the project on " Integration of Population Education in Adult Literacy Programme" which is fully funded by UNFPA since 1986. At present the project is being implemented through the technical support of 16 state Resource Centre/Regional Resource Centres in all over the Country i.e. Andhra Pradesh, Bihar, Delhi, Gujarat, Haryana, Karnataka, Kerala, Madhya Pradesh, Maharasthra (Pune and Aurangabad) Orissa, Punjab, Rajasthan, Tamilnadu, Uttar Pradesh and West Bengal. The main objective of the project are to contribute to institutionalisation of the population education component with literacy and post literacy campaigns.
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8.6.23 The focus of the activities is to integrate Population Education Messages in the teaching learning materials, training curricula, media software etc.
8.6.24 Based upon these messages, motivational, instructional and follow-up materials are being brought out.
8.6.25 The Project has covered about 400 TLC/PLC districts spread over 26 States/UTs focussing on the productive age group between 15 to 35 Years.
The following activities were undertaken during the period under report:
1. Project Progress Review Meetings and National Workshop on PE were held in Kodaikanal in the month of May 1996 to review the progress of the project and to identify major thrust areas and to develop approaches for implementation of the project in the third phase. Training modules were being prepared for KRPs, and VTs.
2. Impact/evaluation studies are being commissioned covering Bihar, UP, Rajasthan, M.P., Maharashtra, A.P., West Bengal and Karnataka, which is under process.
3. Inter-State comparative study has been planned in respect of Gujarat and Orissa (Under Process).
4. Population Education project is likely to extend the project activities to the SRCs of NEHU, Himachal Pradesh, Assam, Bihar.
8.6.27 Action is being taken for the extension of the project during the 9th Five Year Plan.
Continuing Education For Neo-Literates 8.6.28 The National Literacy Mission (NLM), besides emphasizing on other aspects of the programme, lays special emphasis on post literacy and Continuing Education for the neo-literates so that they could be prevented from relapsing into illiteracy. Keeping this in view, the Scheme of Post Literacy and Continuing Education was launched in March, 1988 to institutionalise Post Literacy and Continuing Education through establishment of 'Jan Shikshan Nilayams' (JSNs) all over the country in a phased manner. The basic objective of the scheme is to provide opportunities of continuing education to neo-literates to facilitate retention of their literacy skills, enable the learners to continue their learning beyond elementary literacy and to create scope for application of their learning skills for improvement of their living conditions.
8.6.29 The scheme has classified the continuing education programmes broadly into four categories:
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i) Equivalency Programmes (EPS)- designed as alternative education programmes equivalent to existing formal general or vocational education,
ii) Income Generating Programmes (IGPS) to help Participants acquire or upgrade vocational skills enabling them to take up income generating activities,
iii) Quality of Life Improvement Programmes (QLIP) these aim at to equip the learners and the community with that essential knowledge, attitude, value and skills both as individuals and members of the community.
iv) Individuals' Interest Promotion Programmes (IIPP) these provide opportunity for individuals to participate in and learn about their own chosen social, cultural, spiritual, health, physical and artistic interests.
8.6.30 Currently 166 post-literacy programmes are in progress in the country.
8.6.31 In view of the above, NLM proposed to organise regional orientation workshops on Continuing Education for the benefit of various senior level functionaries of the Govt. and SRCs and evolving action plans. For developing various kinds of Continuing Education, two regional workshops were organised at Hyderabad in June'96 and Ahmedabad Dec.'96 respectively.
State Resource Centres 8.6.32 State Resource Centres had been providing academic and technical resource support to literacy campaigns in the country. With the increase in number of Literacy Campaigns upto 414 districts in the country, responsibilities of SRCs by way of development of materials, training of field functionaries, monitoring and evaluation of campaigns etc. have increased manifold.
8.6.33 Resource Centres extended resource support to voluntary agencies and other educational institutions. In this regard, several of the SRCs intensified collaborative action with Zilla Saksharata Samities.
8.6.34 The National Literacy Mission (NLM) took several measures to strengthen the State Resource Centres, upgrade their capability and involve them more vigorously and intimately in the literacy efforts. In view of this, a National Conference of Directors of State Resource Centres was organised by the National Literacy mission/Central Directorate of Adult Education from September 23-25, 1996. Some Chairpersons and the State Directors of Adult/Mass Education also attended the conference.
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8.6.35 The activities of State Resource Centres were monitored regularly and the Annual Report on State Resource Centres for the Year 1995-96 brought out.
Shramik Vidhyapeeths (SVPs) 8.7.1 The scheme of Shramik Vidhyapeeth is one of the prominent programmes of nonformal adult and continuing education for the urban community. 53 Shramik Vidhyapeeths were set up by the Year 1995-96 and likely to be expanded during 9th Five Year Plan.
8.7.2 The basic idea behind the multi-dimensional or polyvalent approach to the education of urban working community in Shramik Vidhyapeeth is to meet the various inter-related needs of target groups with specifically tailored programmes. This provides knowledge and imparts skills simultaneously and in an integrated manner.
8.7.3 The prime concern of the Shramik Vidhyapeeth is to conduct courses of varying duration involving vocational/technical skills for skill development/upgradation to participate in income generating activities. It is to improve socioeconomic status of the poorest of the poor beneficiaries. The programmes of Shramik Vidhyapeeths have been very widely recognised as very potential means of promoting continuing education and develop attitude for lifelong learning. The Directorate of Adult Education is extending Technical Resource Support Services for smooth functioning of the SVPs in the countries.
8.7.4 During the Year 1995-96 the Shramik Vidhyapeeths conducted 10119 programmes and benefitted 376802 persons. The participation of women in programmes was to the extent of 63.21 % and that of males was 3 6.79% only. 87.84% persons were of the age group of 15-35 Years. 83.55% were income group below Rs.
155 per month.
Publication 1. The Directorate undertakes production and dissemination of different types of materials including the monthly journals, entitled, 'Saksharata Mission' and Literacy Mission' in Hindi and English versions. Preparation and designing of camera ready art works of publications & posters and preparation Maps, charts TPs and Illustrations are also being done in the DAE.
2. Printing of various types of books on literacy included the following among parts:-
* Multi Media Workshops for Environment Building in the Hindi speaking States
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* ATLP-CE Volumes, Hindi and English versions.
* How to Evaluate Learning Outcomes of TLCs.
* A Comparative Study of the Analytic and Synthetic Method of Teaching.
3. On the occasion of ILD-Sept. 8, 1996 following publications were brought out:-
Women and Literacy Our Hopes and Dreams in Our Words Literacy Fact at a Glance Towards A Literate India Sakshar
4. Services of photo journalists hired for documentation of TLC/PLC districts.
8.7.5 Printing of a series of books covering technical and informative on Population Education, Post-Literacy, Monitoring, Media, Training, Voluntary Agency and Prize Winning Essays, Posters and Photos are being taken up.
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