Date:31/10/2008 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2008/10/31/stories/2008103158010100.htm

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Adult literacy to enter new phase in State

Sangeetha Unnithan

Literacy mission gearing up to launch new programme

Education Minister M.A. Baby says LEAP will go beyond equivalency exams.

Thiruvananthapuram: The Kerala State Literacy Mission is gearing up to launch a radical programme that promises to revolutionise the concept of adult literacy and continuing education in the State.

Named “Lifelong Education and Awareness Programme (LEAP),” a campaign is being formulated in association with the Department of Education. Touted as the next level of adult literacy by the National Literacy Mission, the new programme involves a public campaign similar to that initiated by the mission in 1991. It is expected to be implemented by the year-end. “LEAP will go beyond the equivalency examinations and combine promotion of the skills and talents of the learners besides mere teaching of alphabets and numerals. As we are dealing only with adults, we intend to recognise and promote the experience and skills accumulated by these learners,” said Education Minister M.A. Baby.

“The programme will primarily include skill development, vocational training, income generation and improvement of quality of life besides attainment of total primary education. The learners will also be given grace consideration for their achievements in ethnic skills and crafts. Another feature of the programme is that all adults, barring age limit, who have the physical and mental ability for learning can enrol for the programme,” the Minister said. The mission had submitted a proposal for launching a State-wide programme for total primary education in April 2008 and the State government decided to implement it as a comprehensive programme for continuing adult education. Total primary education will now be a component of LEAP.

Total primary literacy

Districts like Kannur and Wayanad and panchayats, including Parassala, Nilambur, Keezparambu, Chelambra, Bharanikavu and Mainakapalli, had already initiated the total primary literacy programme.

Around 40,000 neo-literates have cleared the standard four equivalency examinations in Kerala since 2000. Kerala is also the only State to have started equivalency programme for standard 10.