NIPUN Bharat: A step towards children’s foundational literacy
On Monday, the Union Education Minister Ramesh Pokhriyal ‘Nishank’ launched an initiative named National Initiative for Proficiency in Reading with Understanding and Numeracy (NIPUN) Bharat. The aim is to ensure that by 2026-2027, every child in India achieves foundational literacy and numeracy (FLN) necessary for academic success before or when they complete class 3. PTI has quoted Nishank saying, "NIPUN Bharat aims to cover the learning needs of children in the age group of 3 to 9 years. Teachers need to focus on every child for developing basic language, literacy and numeracy skills which will help them develop into better readers and writers. Thus, NIPUN Bharat envisages making the experience of learning at the foundational stage Holistic, Integrated, Inclusive, Enjoyable, and Engaging."
This programme, launched under the aegis of the centrally sponsored scheme of Samagra Shiksha, will be taken forward by the Department of School Education and Literacy, Ministry of Education. Foundational literacy comprises of oral language development, decoding, reading fluency, reading comprehension, writing. Foundational numeracy, on the other hand, includes pre-number concepts, numbers and operations on numbers, shapes and spatial understanding, measurement and data handling.
The guidelines and framework for NIPUN Bharat have been formed in consultation with the sates. While experts from the NCERT as well as outside have been involved in the process, CBSE, KVS and NVS have also extended their support for this initiative.
The National Education Policy 2020 had highlighted the importance of attaining foundational literacy and numeracy for all children. According to NEP 2020, this must become an immediate national mission.
"In keeping with this, the Department has developed a comprehensive guideline under NIPUN Bharat, through a series of intensive consultations with implementing partners, experts to make it flexible and collaborative,” said the Union Education Minister.
"It covers key technical aspects of foundational literacy and numeracy as well as the administrative aspects for effectively setting up an implementation mechanism at the national, state, district, block and school level. An approval of ₹2,688.18 crore has already been given under Samagra Shiksha scheme to the states/UTs for implementation of the various interventions for foundational stage in 2021-22," he added. Additionally, a special package for foundational literacy and Numeracy under National Initiative for School Heads' and Teachers' Holistic Advancement (NISHTHA) is being developed by NCERT for training around 25 lakh teachers teaching at pre-primary to primary gradeon FLN. This is because the success of NIPUN Bharat will primarily depend on teachers.
The unique feature of this initiative is that the mission is being formulated in the form of "Lakshya Soochi" or Targets for Foundational Literacy and Numeracy.
Some of the significant targets include ensuring an inclusive classroom environment, enabling children to become motivated, independent, and engaged readers and writers among others.
Also, the learning outcomes for Foundational learning have been divided into 3 Development goals: Goal 1-HW (Health and Wellbeing), Goal 2-EC (Effective Communicators), Goal 3-IL (Involved Learners).
(With inputs from PTI)