15 lakh candidates appear in the New India Literacy Program test in the state

The New India Literacy Program is being run in the state to teach reading and writing to people above 15 who are deprived of education. In this program, a Foundational Literacy and Numeracy Assessment Test (FNLAT) was conducted simultaneously in 52 districts on Sunday, 22 September. More than 15 lakh candidates appeared in the literacy test. There were more women participants in the test. The School Education Department is running the literacy program in the state. The number of newly literate students passed so far in the state has exceeded 82 lakh 53 thousand.

Use of digital technology in literacy programs

Digital technology is being used to bring transparency in the New India Literacy Program ‘ULLAS’. For this, an app has been developed by the State Literacy Mission Authority constituted in the state. Door-to-door surveys and monitoring of literacy classes are being done through geo-tag. This program will be conducted to teach important life skills like financial literacy, legal awareness, digital literacy, and vocational skills along with basic literacy and numeracy to the illiterate people in the state who do not have knowledge of basic literacy or do not have a literacy certificate. The help of voluntary organizations, youth, cadets of NCC, and scout guides is being taken in the literacy program. Illiterate people in the state are being imparted education through “Ullas Akshar Pothi”. The entry of the candidates appearing in the test held on Sunday has been done on the online portal.

Monitoring by Central government representatives

Representatives of the Literacy Department of the Union Ministry of Education participated in the Foundational Literacy and Numeracy Assessment Test. The representatives reached rural areas of Bhopal, Raisen, Sehore, and Dewas districts and monitored the examination. The New India Literacy Program Ullas started in the state in 2022 and will continue to run till 2027. So far 3 evaluation tests have been conducted. The volunteers involved in the Ullas New India Literacy Program have been named Akshar Sathi. Literacy-related courses are being delivered through videos, WhatsApp groups, YouTube, and portals.