The New India Literacy Programme (NILP), launched by the Government of India, is an ambitious initiative to eradicate illiteracy in the country, focusing on adult education. It replaces the Saakshar Bharat Mission and represents a more targeted approach to achieving universal literacy by 2030. Read here to learn more.
The centrally sponsored scheme on Education for All (erstwhile known as Adult Education), “New India Literacy Programme (NILP)”, was approved by the Government of India with a financial outlay of Rs.1037.90 crore for implementation during FYs 2022-23 to 2026-27.
The scheme is in alignment with the recommendations of National Education Policy (NEP) 2020. The scheme is targeted at all non-literates of age 15 years and above.
New India Literacy Programme (NILP)
It aims to educate 1 crore non-literate per year aged 15 years and above through the Online Teaching, Learning and Assessment System (OTLAS).
OTLAS is a computer application embedded in the Web Portal/Mobile App under ULLAS developed by the National Informatics Centre (NIC).
The scheme has five components, namely:
- Foundational Literacy and Numeracy
- Critical Life Skills (which include, financial literacy, digital literacy, legal literacy, healthcare and awareness, childcare and education, family welfare, etc.),
- Basic Education (includes preparatory (classes 3 – 5), middle (classes 6- 8), and secondary stage (classes 9-12) equivalency),
- Vocational Skills (Skill development will be a part of the continuous learning process for neo-literates to obtain local employment),
- Continuing Education (This includes 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).
- Formation and involvement of SHGs, Voluntary & User Groups and other community-based organizations may be encouraged.
Key Features of the New India Literacy Programme (NILP)
- Target Group: The program primarily targets non-literate individuals aged 15 years and above. It aims to make a significant dent in the adult illiteracy rate, especially among women, Scheduled Castes (SCs), Scheduled Tribes (STs), and other marginalized communities.
- Implementation Strategy:
- The program leverages existing infrastructure such as schools, Panchayati Raj Institutions, and community centres to set up literacy centres.
- Volunteerism and Community Participation: The program emphasizes volunteer involvement, with educated youth and local community members playing a pivotal role in teaching and mentoring.
- Technology Integration: NILP uses digital platforms and mobile applications to enhance accessibility and effectiveness, especially in remote and rural areas. This includes e-learning modules and interactive content available on smartphones.
- Monitoring and Evaluation: The program has a robust monitoring and evaluation mechanism to track progress and ensure that the literacy goals are met. This includes regular assessments and the use of technology to gather real-time data on literacy levels.
- Government and NGO Collaboration: The program encourages partnerships with non-governmental organizations (NGOs) and private sector entities to expand its reach and impact.
Impact and Expected Outcomes
The NILP is expected to significantly reduce the adult illiteracy rate in India, enhance the quality of life for millions of non-literate adults, and contribute to the socio-economic development of the country.
- By focusing on functional literacy and essential life skills, the program aims to empower individuals to participate more fully in economic and civic life.
- The scheme is based on technology and implemented predominantly through online mode. The teaching-learning material and resources have been made available on the DIKSHA platform of NCERT and can be accessed through mobile apps.
- Further, other modes like TV, Radio, Samajik Chetna Kendra etc. are also to be used for dissemination of Foundational Literacy and Numeracy.
- All the non-literate above 15 years of age can avail the benefits of the scheme.
Challenges
According to the Census 2011, India faces a significant literacy challenge, with 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.
Hence NILP also faces challenges like:
- Accessibility: Ensuring that the program reaches the most remote and marginalized communities.
- Sustainability: Maintaining the momentum of literacy efforts and ensuring that newly literate individuals continue to use and build on their skills.
- Quality of Education: Ensuring that the teaching provided is of high quality and meets the diverse needs of adult learners.
- Gender disparity: The gender gap in literacy rates is substantial, with women often on the lower end. The cultural and traditional hurdles hamper the overall development of girls and eventually women’s empowerment in society.
- High dropout rate: The rural areas show high dropout rates due to economic constraints and again mostly among girls due to traditional norms.
In the news
2024: 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).
- 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.
- 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.
- A non-literate person may be considered as literate under the NILP, as per the aforementioned definition when she/he has been declared literate after taking the Foundational Literacy and Numeracy Assessment Test (FLNAT).
Conclusion
The NILP represents a crucial step towards achieving Sustainable Development Goal 4 (SDG 4) which focuses on ensuring inclusive and equitable quality education and promoting lifelong learning opportunities for all.
Related articles:
- Education in India
- Human Development in India
- Education in state list: Should it be restored?
- Education in British India
-Article by Swathi Satish
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