REPORT OF THE WORKING GROUP ON ADULT EDUCATION (NATIONAL LITERACY MISSION) (ANNEXURE-VI)
Chairperson
Dr. M. Adiseshiah.
Rapporteur
Shri P. M. Mohapatra, Secretary, Education & Youth Services, Government of Orissa.
Shri L. Mishra, Joint Secretary (AE) and Director General (NLM), Department of Education, Ministry of Human Resource Development, New Delhi.
The Group adopted Agenda Item No. 3 circulated for the Conference of CABE as the main document for its deliberations and proceeded with this Item under the following 3 heads:
(i) Achievements during 1988-89.
(ii) Operational problems and constraints.
(iii) Strategy for 1989-90 as also for the VIII Plan period.
(i) Achievements of NLM during 1988-89
The group noted with some amount of satisfaction and appreciation the achievements in the various fields as brought out in the document. It particularly noted with satisfaction that dedicated and sincere efforts have been made to enlarge the base of the hitherto government funded programme into a `mass programme' with involvement of voluntary agencies NYKS, students and non-student youth at the school and college level, members of disciplined forces, ex-servicemen, prison management and staff, other NGOs like Rotary Club, Lion's Club and 48
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JAYCEES, banks and cooperatives, SVPs. It also noted with satisfaction the pace and progress of some of the special campaigns launched through Gujarat Vidyapeeth in Gujarat; Andhra and Bombay University; Schools of the Union Territory of Delhi; Kerala Sastra Sahitya Parishad Ernakulum; NSS in Kottayam; Shanti Ashram in Coimbatore; Mass Mobilisation and Campaign in Karnataka Whole Village Literacy Campaign in Rajasthan; Programme for Complete Eradication of Illiteracy in the 20 blocks of West Bengal with involvement of Panchayats. It also noted the substantial progress which has been achieved in designing a package for improving the pace and content of learning, media coverage and support and technology demonstration.
(ii) Operational problems and constraints
Notwithstanding the progress which has been achieved during 1988- 89, the Group noted that certain problems and constraints continue to inhibit the effective implementation of the Mission. In addition to the constraints listed in the main document, the Group identified the following constraints :
(a) Questions continue to be raised even now about the need for and relevance of adult literacy. There are lot of misconceptions about the definition of an `adult' and the `age group' of the clientele of the Mission. These questions partly stem out of the cynicism and scepticism and partly out of the information gap. The group strongly felt that it is high time that such debates which are totally unnecessary should come to an end and the need for and relevance of adult literacy as an effective tool of communication, of sharing knowledge, information and skills and of effective participation in the affairs of the family, society And the nation should be accepted beyond doubt. The Group felt that both traditional and non-traditional media and particularly Press, AIR and Doordarshan have
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an important role in dispelling such mistaken notions and information gaps and to inform and create a more positive public opinion in support of literacy.
(b)The Group noted With regret that adult education programme was being implemented in isolation as Govt. departmental Programme and that it was not treated as the `key to the success' of other development programmes. The Group strongly feels that all development departments and functionaries must accept adult education as their own programme and an intensive awareness should be created to that effect through appropriate orientation and sharing of information amongst the functionaries at all levels through appropriate means.
(c) The Group noted that low motivation of the functionaries and the learners and absence of a conducive environment were major constraints for implementation of any adult education programme, It, therefore, felt that no literacy programme should be launched without creating the necessary environment and without adequately tackling the problem of motivation of the animators and learners. It felt that the programme can be made more attractive if a linkage with vocational skills conforming to the needs of the clientele could be introduced by drawing, if necessary, resources from different sources.
(d) The Group noted that excessive reliance was being placed at present on (a) Centre Based Programme funded and controlled by the Government; (b) Government funding of various other components of the programme; and (c) Game of number on various aspects of implementation of the programme. In the process, there is an inherent
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danger of the programme acquiring too much of a formal character which is the opposite of what is needed in a "People's Mission" or Programme. A number of areas in the Mission could be operationalised through mobilisation and voluntary involvement of people and the community instead of banking heavily on government funding for such
(c) The Group strongly reiterates the National Literacy Mission is a product of the commitment made in the National Education Policy and the Programme of Action formulated there under and Approved by the Parliament which pledges the whole nation to the task of eradication of illiteracy and, therefore, the Ministry of Human Resource Development, and the Planning Commission should honour their commitment by making available funds for full requirement of the Mission in both the Phases. The State Governments should also provide adequate financial resource support to the Mission.
(f) The Group noted the special constraints in imparting training to a large number of animators and AE functionaries in large State, like-Uttar Pradesh, in view of the limited tithe factor, limited infrastructure and paucity of resources.
(iii) a. Strategy for 1989-90
The Group endorsed the strategies which have been outlined for bringing about improvement in the pace and quality or learning, massive involvement of students, area focus on educationally backward pockets, involvement of Shramik Vidyapeeths, and Voluntary Agencies, standardisation, management, and complete eradication of illiteracy concept in selected areas. Additionally in order that the Mission becomes a truly "people's mission", the Group recommends that-All literate employees in the Central and State Government offices, Central and State
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public sector undertakings, all nationalised banks and cooperative institutions, teachers of primary, secondary and higher secondary schools and colleges and universities and of all aided ,educational institutions should be mobilised to impart literacy under the Mass Programme of Functional Literacy. In regard to mobilisation and involvement of VAs, the group recommends that whenever and wherever projects are sanctioned in favour of VAs including NYKs, complete information should be made available to the State Government and the State Mission Director for better coordination.
b. Strategy for the 8th Five Year Plan
The goal for the VIII Plan is to make 50 million illiterate adults + the new entrants + the backlog from the 7th Plan period literate. For this, the globaly funding would be of the order of Rs. 1500 crores.
The Group discussed the strategy to be pursued for attaining the goal under the following heads:
(I) Involvement of students and all sections of the Society;
(II) Flexibility in duration of learning;
(III)Evaluation of learning outcome; and
(IV) Post literacy and continuing education.
I. Involvement of Students and others The Group carefully considered all implications of the proposal for massive involvement of students in NLM which was made in the Plenary Session of CADE meeting on 6th July (Morning) and came to the following conclusions :
(a) Imparting of literacy should be made an integral part of the curriculum at the school (from Class IX up- wards) and the collegiate level as is being initiated in West Bengal.
(b) There are at present 40 lakh students in universities/ colleges and 140 lakh students in schools (class IX to XII). Twenty percent of these students from
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educational institutions on a selective basis should be involved fully in NLM during 1989-90 with the objective of involving the `entire student community' from Class IX upwards from 1990-91 and onwards. All implications of the above proposition should be clearly worked out and the message must be widely disseminated through extensive use of media to inform the public, opinion that such involvement is possible and is capable of yielding the desired results.
(c) Organisations of teachers and students at all levels-all India and state should be consulted for their full involvement and participation in the programme.
(d) A detailed Action Plan, both at the macro and micro level should be formulated involving the following components :
(1) Environment building;
(2) Survey, selection of the area of operation and identification of clientele;
(3) Identification of master trainers and volunteers;
(4) Training;
(5) Production and supply of Literacy Kits to the volunteers;
(6) Actual imparting of literacy;
(7) Evaluation of learning outcome and reporting.
(e) The Mass Programme of Functional Literacy should broadly continue in its present form but its coverage would be intensified. In respect of student volunteers in urban based educational institutions, they should adopt a `specific area' of operation which is near to the institution and students who reside and study in rural areas should work for adult illiterates of those areas or neighbouring areas.
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II. Flexibility in duration of learning While endorsing the duration of learning mentioned in the, main document, the Group took note of the peculiarity of geographical, topographical, environmental and other agro-climatic variations obtaining in different States and regions as also the constraints and peculiarities in teaching learning of women, certain special ethnic groups and disadvantaged sections of society, like-Scheduled Tribe community and felt that we should not be overly obssessed with the duration of learning as long as the pre-determined levels of literacy and numeracy continue to be achieved even with a reduced duration `but with an improved pace and effectiveness'.
III. Evaluation of learning outcome The Group noted and welcomed the specific recommendations made by the Working Group set up by the Directorate of Adult Education, Government of India and adopted in the 10th Meeting of the Executive Committee of the NLMA as have already been brought out in the main document regarding introduction of an `integrated technique' of learning involving:
(a) Preparation of the NLM primer in 3-parts to repre- sent three different grades/levels of learning.
(b) Integration of the technique and agency of evalua- tion of learning outcome and the tools thereof.
(c) Improvement of the pace, content and quality of learning to improve motivation for better retention and application of the literacy and numeracy skills by the learners.
The Group noted that sincere efforts need to be made to introduce this innovative technique all over the country and urged that We should create a state of physical, intellectual and pedagogical preparedness for all the institutions/agencies and functionaries who will be involved in preparation of the new material, its try-out and its adoption.
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IV. Post Literacy and Continuing Education The Group noted with satisfaction that 20,000 JSNs have been set up under RFLP, SAEP, VAs, NYKs, University sector etc. by the close of 1988-89. Keeping in view the actual expectation of setting up 60,000 JSNs by 1990 and 1,00,000 by 1995, the Group feels that JSNs should be set up in large number as a `community institution' by pooling of resources from a variety of sources instead of looking up to Government as the sole source of funding. However, the Central Government should make sure that funds are made available fully in time at least for the first two years of the 8th Plan period to ensure that an effective linkage is established through these JSNs between Basic Literacy, Post Literacy and Continuing Education.
PARTICIPANTS IN THE GROUP ON NATIONAL
LITERACY MISSION
6-7 July, 1989
IIT, New Delhi
1. Dr. M. S. Adiseshiah Chairman
Chairman
Madras Institute of Development Studies
Madras
2. Shri Lakshamidhar Mishra Repporteur
Joint Secretary & Director General
National Literacy Mission
3. Shri P. Mohapatra
Secretary, Education
Government of Orissa
4. Shri Anil Bordia
Education Secretary
Department of Education
5. Shri Davy K. Manawalan
Joint Secretary
Department of Sports
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6. Ms. Anita Kaul
Deputy Secretary, Adult Education
Department of Education
7. Shri B. C. Rokadya
Consultant
Directorate of Adult Education
Department of Education
8. Shri G. V. Bhakta Priya
Consultant
Directorate of Adult Education
Department of Education
9. Shri M. V. Venkata Reddy
Director, Adult Education
Government of Andhra Pradesh
10.Shri Shakti Sinha
Secretary Education
Government of Goa
11.Shri M. M. Joshi
Dy. Director, Adult Education
Government of Gujarat
12.Shri K. V. Madanan
Director of Public Instruction
Government of Kerala
13.Shri B. L. Sharma
Deputy Director, Adult Education
Government of Madhya Pradesh
14.Ms. Kumud Bansal
Secretary Education
Government of Maharashtra
15.Shri Vasant Patil
Director, Adult Education
Government of Maharashtra
16.Shri S. K. Srivastava
Joint Secretary (Edn.)
Government of Manipur
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17.Shri H. R. Borah
Joint Director (Edn.)
Government of Nagaland
18.Shri G. C. Mahapatra
Director, Adult Education
Government of Orissa
19.Ms. Darshan Kaur
Additional Director, Adult Education
Government of Punjab
20.Shri V. A. Sivagnanam
Director of Non-Formal & Adult Education
Government of Tamil Nadu
21.Miss Gauri Dhar
Joint Director, Adult Education
Government of Tripura
22.Ms. Rita Sinha
Secy., Basic & Adult Education &
Director, Adult Education
Government of Uttar Pradesh
23.Shri M. Roy
Director (Mass Education Extension) & Ex-Officio
Director of Adult Education
Government of West Bengal
24.Shri C. R. Sharma
Directorate of Education
Delhi Administration
25.Shri P. Mathews Samuel
Director (Education)
Pondicherry
26.Shri Rakesh Jain
Joint Director
Central Social Welfare Board
27.Dr. M. Aram
President, Shanti Ashram
Coimbatore
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28.Shri V. P. Raghavachary
Member (CABE)
Hyderabad
29.Shri Syed Hasan
Member (CABE)
Bihar
30.Smt. Chitra Naik
Member (CABE)
Pune
31.Shri N. R. Pathak
Director (Edn.)
Government of Maharashtra
32.Shri C. S. Mehta
Director (Adult Education)
Government of Rajasthan