Education Ministry Defines Literacy and Full Literacy

Syllabus: GS2/ Education

Context

• In a letter to all States, 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).

What is literacy and full literacy?

• The Ministry of Education (MoE), has stated that 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.
• The 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.

Literacy Challenges in India

• As per Census 2011, the literacy rate in the country was 74% in 2011 as compared to 64.8% in 2001.
  • There are 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.

Reasons of low literacy in India

• Educational Utility: In rural areas, education may not be perceived as valuable due to limited economic opportunities, leading to lower enrollment rates.
  • Additionally, the availability of schools nearby is often limited, further restricting access to education.
• Caste disparities: Discrimination against lower castes has resulted in high dropout rates and low enrollment rates.
• Female Literacy: A significant proportion of illiterate individuals in India are women, contributing to the overall low literacy rate. 
• Lack of Basic Facilities: The absence of essential facilities like drinking water, toilets, and electricity in schools deter attendance, particularly for girls.

Challenges faced by non-literate individuals

• Non-literate individuals often face social stigma, which can lead to low self-esteem and marginalization within their communities.

• The increasing reliance on digital technology for communication, education, and services exclude non-literate individuals.
• Non-literate individuals are excluded from higher productivity sectors that require technical skills or formal education, limiting their economic mobility and keeping them in cycles of poverty.
• The cycle of illiteracy can continue across generations, as children of non-literate parents may be at a higher risk of dropping out of school or not receiving the educational support they need.

Government Initiatives 

• Nipun Bharat: it was launched with a vision to ensure universal literacy and numeracy for Class 3 children by 2026-27.
  • It envisaged a five-tier implementation mechanism, set up at the National- State- District- Block- School level in all States and UTs, under the aegis of the Centrally Sponsored Scheme of Samagra Shiksha.
• Samagra Shiksha Abhiyan: An integrated scheme for school education, covering Pre-school to Class XII. It aims to ensure inclusive and equitable quality education.
• The National Education Policy (NEP), 2020:  It has provisions for the National Mission on Foundational Literacy and Numeracy for attaining universal foundational literacy and numeracy in all primary schools.
  • It also aims to identify state-wise targets and goals to be achieved by 2025.
• Jan Shikshan Sansthan (JSS): Provides vocational training and skill development to non-literate and neo-literate individuals, with a focus on rural areas.

Concluding remarks

• The initiatives reflect the government’s commitment to improving literacy and educational outcomes across India, with a focus on inclusivity and equity. 
• The potential of technology should be harnessed in improving literacy rates in India by making education more accessible, interactive, and tailored to the needs of diverse learners.

Source:TH