BOOK CHALLENGE |
Next in importance to freedom and justice is popular education, without which neither freedom nor justice can be permanently maintained.
A little less than 50 per cent of the total population in 1991 was illiterate but since than the country has made considerable progress both in terms of total (7+ population) and adult literacy (15+) rates. Since the latest census based on complete enumeration was conducted in 1991, beyond that year literacy statistics in India is not available. However, the same on household sample basis is available from a semi-government organization, namely the National Sample Survey Organization. The literacy rate (7+ Population) increased from 52 per cent in 1991 to 62 per cent in 1998, thus showing an impressive increase of 10 percentage points in a short period of about seven years. However, no significant improvement is noticed in male/female differential in literacy rate, which has declined from 25 to 23 per cent during the same period. It may however be noted that during 1991 to 1998, the increase in female literacy (11 per cent) was higher than the increase in male literacy (9 per cent). In addition, many states have lower literacy rates than at the all-India level and among weaker sections (SC, 37 and ST, 30 per cent), it is very poor.
The rural/urban distribution of literacy rates reveal that increase was higher in rural areas than in urban areas and the difference was of the tune of four percentage points. The rural/urban differential in literacy during the period 1991 to 1998 declined from 28 to 24 per cent but the male/female differential in rural areas continues to be significantly high at 25 percentage points. Despite all these significant achievements, a large number of people in rural areas are still illiterate (44 per cent) compared to which only 20 per cent urban population is illiterate. Not only the literacy rates improved significantly but also the number of illiterates declined considerably during the period 1991 to 1998 and is expected to further decline by the year 2001 (MHRD, 2000d). From 329 million illiterates (7+ population) in 1991, it has declined to 294 million in 1998 and is further likely to decline to 258 million in the year 2001.
Following the general pattern, the adult literacy rate (15+ population) also increased significantly from 49 per cent in 1991 to 57 per cent in 1998, thus showing an increase of 8 percentage points in a short span of about seven years. However, male/female differential in literacy remained high at 27 percentage points, which shows that, both the male and female literacy rates between 1991 and 1998 have increased by equal percentage points. Unless all the females are made literate, the goal of universal literacy will continue to remain a distant dream. The other major concern is that many of the literates are simply literate and have not completed formal schooling. The NSSO data for year 1995-96 reveals that about 10 per cent of the total literates (15+ Population) are either literate without formal schooling or below primary level. About 28 per cent of the total literates have completed either primary or upper primary schooling. The rest of the literates have completed other higher levels of education.
The significant improvement in literacy rates during 1991 to 1998 is because of the measures that have been initiated during this period. The literacy programmes in India are managed by the National Literacy Mission(NLM) launched in 1992 with an aim to make 100 million literates of the age group 15-35 years by the turn of the century i.e. 1999. Based on the Ernakulam experience in mobilizing society in the affairs of literacy programs, the NLM launched Total Literacy Campaigns in a large number of districts. Since then a number of districts have become total literate districts. The achievement is also because of the fact that during 1990's, a number of innovative projects and programmes were initiated, which is quite visible in enrolment and drop out trends analyzed in the subsequent sections.
The rural/urban distribution of literacy rates reveal that increase was higher in rural areas than in urban areas and the difference was of the tune of four percentage points. The rural/urban differential in literacy during the period 1991 to 1998 declined from 28 to 24 per cent but the male/female differential in rural areas continues to be significantly high at 25 percentage points. Despite all these significant achievements, a large number of people in rural areas are still illiterate (44 per cent) compared to which only 20 per cent urban population is illiterate. Not only the literacy rates improved significantly but also the number of illiterates declined considerably during the period 1991 to 1998 and is expected to further decline by the year 2001 (MHRD, 2000d). From 329 million illiterates (7+ population) in 1991, it has declined to 294 million in 1998 and is further likely to decline to 258 million in the year 2001.
Following the general pattern, the adult literacy rate (15+ population) also increased significantly from 49 per cent in 1991 to 57 per cent in 1998, thus showing an increase of 8 percentage points in a short span of about seven years. However, male/female differential in literacy remained high at 27 percentage points, which shows that, both the male and female literacy rates between 1991 and 1998 have increased by equal percentage points. Unless all the females are made literate, the goal of universal literacy will continue to remain a distant dream. The other major concern is that many of the literates are simply literate and have not completed formal schooling. The NSSO data for year 1995-96 reveals that about 10 per cent of the total literates (15+ Population) are either literate without formal schooling or below primary level. About 28 per cent of the total literates have completed either primary or upper primary schooling. The rest of the literates have completed other higher levels of education.
The significant improvement in literacy rates during 1991 to 1998 is because of the measures that have been initiated during this period. The literacy programmes in India are managed by the National Literacy Mission(NLM) launched in 1992 with an aim to make 100 million literates of the age group 15-35 years by the turn of the century i.e. 1999. Based on the Ernakulam experience in mobilizing society in the affairs of literacy programs, the NLM launched Total Literacy Campaigns in a large number of districts. Since then a number of districts have become total literate districts. The achievement is also because of the fact that during 1990's, a number of innovative projects and programmes were initiated, which is quite visible in enrolment and drop out trends analyzed in the subsequent sections.
So in order to increase our primary education literacy rate. please encourage poor people by donating a book.
Lets take "The Book Challenge". Please help poor students.
Lets take "The Book Challenge". Please help poor students.
REFERENCES
- Mehta, Arun C. (1995): Education for All in India- Myth and Reality. Kanishka, New Delhi.