-By ArdorComm News Network
February 17, 2022
The Indian Govt. planned to initiate adult education and Lifelong Learning under the National Education Policy 2020. The announcement has been made to enable increased access to resources in the Union Budget 2021-22. Online modules covering the whole gamut of adult education are going to be introduced.
The scheme’s objectives are not only to impart foundational literacy and numeracy but also to cover other components which are necessary for a citizen of the 21st century like critical life skills such as 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, like more advanced material on critical life skills.
The implementation of the scheme will be made through volunteerism through online mode. However, the training, orientation, workshops of volunteers, could also be organized in face-to-face mode.
All equipment and resources shall be provided digitally for simple access to registered volunteers through easily accessible digital modes, viz, TV, radio, cell phone-based free/open-source Apps/portals, etc. The scheme will cover non-literates of the age of 15 years and above in all states/UTs in the country.
The salient features of adult education and Lifelong Learning are that the school will be the unit for the implementation of the scheme. Schools to be used for conducting surveys of beneficiaries and voluntary Teachers (VTs). Various strategies are to be adopted for different age groups. Foundational Literacy and Numeracy are going to be imparted through Critical Life Skills to all or any non-literates in the age bracket of 15 years and above. Use of technologies to impart adult education for wider coverage of the scheme.
According to Census 2011, the absolute number of non-literates in the country at 15 years and above is 25.76 crore (Male 9.08 crore, Female 16.68 crore). In consideration of the progress of persons certified as literates being to the tune of 7.64 crores under the Saakshar Bharat programme implemented during 2009-10 to 2017-18, it’s estimated that currently around 18.12 crore adults are still non-literate in India.
Source: India Today