Ladakh has recently achieved a significant milestone by becoming a fully ‘functionally literate’ administrative unit, reaching a 97% literacy rate. This achievement comes under the centrally-sponsored ULLAS – Nav Bharat Saaksharta Karyakram (New India Literacy Programme), which was launched in alignment with the New Education Policy 2020 (NEP 2020) in 2022.
Key Components of ULLAS:
The ULLAS scheme is designed to address the literacy needs of individuals aged 15 years and above who missed out on formal schooling. It comprises five core components:
- Foundational Literacy and Numeracy
- Life Skills
- Basic Education
- Vocational Skills
- Continuing Education
Progress and Plans:
- Milestone Achievement: Ladakh is the first region to achieve a full literacy rate under ULLAS. The scheme now aims to extend this achievement to eight to nine states and union territories by the end of the year, focusing on areas with smaller populations such as Goa, Pondicherry, Lakshadweep, and Andaman and Nicobar Islands.
- Future Goals: States with larger populations like Uttar Pradesh and Maharashtra will require more time, but efforts are underway to address their literacy challenges.
Archana Sharma Awasthi, Joint Secretary, Department of School Education & Literacy, states, “We expect eight to nine states and union territories to be declared fully functionally literate this year after conducting the Foundational Literacy and Numeracy Test (FLNT).”
Implementation in Ladakh:
- Survey and Registration: District and block education officers conducted surveys to identify illiterate individuals. These individuals were then registered on the ULLAS mobile app and matched with trained volunteers who provided classes according to the learners’ availability.
- Training and Resources: Volunteers, including college students, housewives, and retired teachers, were trained and utilized primers developed by NCERT.
Awasthi explains, “Classes had a minimum duration of 200 minutes per month. We conducted three FLNT exams to gauge the literacy rate, and by March of this year, we achieved a 97% literacy rate.”
Post-Literacy Support:
- Vocational Courses: The scheme facilitates access to vocational courses under the Jan Shikshan Sansthan scheme and helps learners enroll in formal education systems, including the Open Basic Education (OBE) Programme run by NIOS.
- Continuing Education: Collaboration with state governments aims to support learners in continuing their education beyond basic literacy.
Enhancing Numeracy Skills:
The ULLAS scheme not only focuses on reading and writing but also evaluates numeracy skills. A person is declared literate if they score above 50% in the FLNT exam, which tests both literacy and numeracy skills.
Volunteer Support:
- Volunteer Participation: The scheme relies heavily on volunteers, including local college students and community members. Institutions affiliated with UGC, AICTE, and NCTE are encouraged to allocate credits to students participating as volunteers.
- Community Involvement: Requests from housewives, retired professionals, and Anganwadi workers to volunteer demonstrate the community’s commitment to contributing to societal development.
Focus on Female Literacy:
Women have shown greater enthusiasm for education under the ULLAS scheme. Preeti Meena, Director, Department of School Education & Literacy, notes, “Our focus is on increasing the female literacy rate, especially in areas where it lags behind the national average.”
Ladakh’s achievement under the ULLAS scheme is a testament to the effectiveness of localized, community-driven educational initiatives. The program’s success sets a precedent for other regions and highlights the importance of addressing literacy through culturally and regionally tailored approaches.
