Strengthening Foundational Literacy Skills: A Path To Universal Literacy In India
In the first week of September 2023, (1st September - 8th September), India celebrated Literacy Week with the goal of increasing awareness of the importance of literacy at all ages and levels, through promotion of the ULLAS - Nav Bharat Saksharta Abhiyan, which is an initiative launched in 2022 to provide essential skills such as Foundational Literacy and Numeracy, Critical Life Skills, Basic Education Skills, and Vocational Skills to over 5 crore adults across India by 2027. Through such initiatives, the Government aims to achieve the objective of making India universally literate.
Literacy, as defined by the United Nations Population Commission, is the ability to read and write a simple message with comprehension in any language. In the Indian context, a literate person, aged seven or above, possesses the ability to read and write with understanding, irrespective of formal education or degrees. Literacy, however, is far more than just a skill; it is a powerful tool for development, progress, and empowerment. By bestowing the gift of literacy upon individuals, we grant them not only knowledge but also the fundamental right to contribute to a brighter, more sustainable world. Literacy is the cornerstone upon which individuals realize their full potential, becoming the vanguards of progress, innovation, and culture in our society.
In the grand tapestry of a nation's progress, the threads of economic growth are intricately woven into its human capital—arguably one of the most precious resources at its disposal. Human capital encompasses not just numbers but the skills, potential, and productivity of a nation's population. In the case of India, a country teeming with diverse talents and aspirations, the literacy rate emerges as a critical factor in shaping its destiny. By 2025, India is projected to harness a labor force of 300 million, comprising a quarter of the world's working population (as per the Indian labor report, 2009). The numbers are staggering, but they underscore the profound role that literacy plays in determining India's development trajectory. Research conducted by experts offers a tantalizing glimpse into the transformative power of literacy. Their studies reveal that countries with literacy scores just 1% higher than the global average enjoy an impressive 2% boost in labor productivity and a 1.4% rise in GDP per capita. Further analysis demonstrates that an extra year of schooling can amplify aggregate labor productivity by a remarkable 7%. These findings emphasize that literacy isn't just an educational milestone—it is an economic catalyst, propelling nations towards sustainable growth. In this context, education becomes an invaluable instrument for empowerment, particularly for women, children, and marginalized sections of society. It levels the playing field, opening doors to success and productivity.
Recognizing the urgency of this educational crisis, the Indian Government introduced a transformative measure in the form of the new National Education Policy (NEP) in 2020. NEP 2020 places early learning at the forefront, declaring, "Our highest priority must be to achieve universal foundational literacy and numeracy (FLN) in primary school and beyond by 2026-27. The rest of the policy will be largely irrelevant for such a large portion of our students if this most basic learning (reading, writing, and arithmetic at the foundational level) is not first achieved." NEP 2020 acknowledges that a significant proportion of elementary school students, estimated to be over 5 crores, currently lack the essential foundational learning skills. The policy underscores the imperative to confront this crisis head-on and without delay, ensuring that basic learning takes root in schools, granting all students the opportunity to access quality education. To catalyze this effort, the Government launched the National Initiative for Proficiency in Reading with Understanding and Numeracy (NIPUN Bharat), a mission aimed at universal FLN skills acquisition by all Grade 3 children in India by 2026/27. Over 83.7 million school children between the ages of 3-8 and 42.5 million children between the ages of 3-6 are being provided with basic literacy and numeracy skills through the NIPUN Bharat Mission for Foundational Literacy and numeracy.
Under the guidance of the NIPUN Bharat Mission's core principles, a robust national roadmap has been devised to elevate Foundational Learning to new heights. The mission establishes a noteworthy standard, expecting Class 3 students to proficiently read at least 60 words per minute, comprehend text regardless of the language, and articulate words with precision, even when encountering age-appropriate yet unfamiliar texts. A momentous stride in bolstering Foundational Literacy and Numeracy (FLN) endeavors took place when the National Council of Educational Research and Training (NCERT) undertook an unprecedented Foundational Learning Study (FLS) in March 2022. This monumental study encompassed approximately 86,000 Grade 3 students from 10,000 schools, rendering it the world's most extensive survey of Foundational Learning levels among students. The FLS sample spanned across state, central government, and private schools and was conducted in 20 different languages. This comprehensive endeavor signifies a pivotal step towards equipping India's forthcoming generations with the indispensable tools for learning, empowering them to script a brighter and more literate future for our nation. Furthermore, the imperative to enhance Foundational Literacy and Numeracy in India garnered international recognition during the recent G-20 Ministers' Meeting. Notably, the Honorable Prime Minister, Narendra Modi, underscored the urgency of taking action to ensure that all children, with a particular emphasis on girls and physically disadvantaged children, elevate their literacy and numeracy levels by Grade 2 or 3 by the year 2030.
In closing, as we stand on the precipice of the future, on the cusp of celebrating yet another International Literacy Day, we must reflect on the importance of Foundational Literacy skills in achieving universal literacy. The path to universal literacy, while marked with significant achievements in adult literacy rates, demands our unwavering commitment to addressing the alarming levels of learning poverty among our children. Through initiatives like NIPUN Bharat and the groundbreaking Foundational Learning Study (FLS), India is taking remarkable strides towards ensuring that every child, regardless of their background, has the fundamental tools for learning and a chance to script a brighter and more literate future for our nation.
Dr. Kirit Premjibhai Solanki, Member of Parliament, Lok Sabha, and Chairman of the Parliamentary Committee on the Welfare of Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes
