New Delhi, Feb 17: In a major transformation, The Central government has approved the New India Literacy Programme, (NILP). It will be implemented for financial years 2022-27 and will cover all aspects of Adult Education to align with National Education Policy, NEP 2020.
The Ministry of Education has announced to rename the term “Adult education” that is for non literates of 15 years and above to be called as "Education for all." It shared a thread of Tweets and information about the union government’s approval of the NILP. The ministry of education wrote, “#NEP2020 recognises the entire gamut of lifelong learning for all. As per this vision, the Government has approved #NewIndiaLiteracyProgram with an estimated budget of Rs. 1037.90 Cr for 5 years. This program envisions educating non-literates who are 15 years old or above.”
The Ministry informed, "Adult Education (प्रौढ़ शिक्षा) is now ‘Education for All’ in the country: As a progressive step, it has also been decided that from now onwards that the term “Education For All” will be used in place of “Adult Education” by the Ministry in view of the fact that the terminology “Adult Education” is not incorporating appropriately all non-literates of 15 years and above age group."
New India Literacy Program-
The objectives of the scheme is to impart not only foundational literacy and numeracy but also to cover other components which are necessary for a citizen of 21st century such as critical life skills (including 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, such as more advanced material on critical life skills).
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The scheme will be implemented through volunteerism through online mode. The training, orientation, workshops of volunteers, may be organized through face-to-face mode. All material and resources shall be provided digitally for easy 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 state/UTs in the country. The target for Foundational Literacy and Numeracy for FYs 2022-27 is 5 (five) crore learners @ 1.00 crore per year by using “Online Teaching, Learning and Assessment System (OTLAS)” in collaboration with National Informatics Centre, NCERT and NIOS in which a learner may register him/herself with essential information like name, date of birth, gender, Aadhaar number, mobile number etc.