Longdiba L Sangtam ADC, Kiphire along with officials from School Education Department Kohima and Kiphire with trainee educators at EBRC Hall in Kiphire town. (Morung Photo)
Morung Express News
Kiphire | April 8
Department of School Education, Government of Nagaland in collaboration with District Education Office, Kiphire, organised one-day training programme for Volunteer Teachers (VTs) on Understanding of Lifelong Learning for All In Society (ULLAS) at EBRC Hall, at Yingphi High School, Kiphire Town on April 8.
These sessions aim to equip educators and volunteers with the necessary skills and knowledge to advance adult education and literacy.
Delivering a short speech Longdiba L Sangtam (NCS) ADC, Kiphire pointed out that the main problem facing the education in government sector is the practice of ‘Proxy Teachers’ which has immensely damaged the quality of education in rural areas he therefore urged upon the volunteer educators to do something productive through ULLAS programme for Kiphire district in achieving a targeted goals as envisioned in the scheme.
He added “taking the opportunity provided through ULLAS programme, volunteer teachers are uniquely placed to make a difference in enhancing the literacy rate of Kiphire district because if you do not bring change, whom should we expect to bring change for our district.”
He called upon the Volunteer Teachers attending the training programme to equip themselves with all the necessary know-how about the aims and objectives of the programme so that the district benefits to its full potential.
ULLAS aims for 100% literacy by 2030
Delivering keynote address, Rokozeho Sothu, Dy Director & Nodal Officer(A/E Kohima) said basing on 2011 census, government of India has launched a centrally sponsored scheme ULLAS- with the goals of achieving 100% literacy by 2030. The principle target of ULLAS is to cover 5 Crore non-literate of 15 years and above in 5 years from 2022-2027 under Foundational Literacy and Numeracy (FLN) to be imparted using modules on critical Life Skills.
He stated in Nagaland alone, there is an estimated 2.76 lakhs non-literate individuals, with 1.14 males and 1.60 lakhs females. The programme will be implemented through the spirit of volunteerism by the State Literacy Mission Authority under the Directorate of School Education, Adult Education section to not only declare Nagaland a fully literate state-with atleast 95% of the total population is literate.
He added with this ambition in mind, ULLAS is currently being rolled out in 7 districts namely Kiphire, Tuensang, Mon, Phek, Zunheboto, Peren and Dimapur during the financial year 2024-2025 with the remaining 4 districts- Kohima, Mokokchung, Wokha and Longleng to be implemented in 2025-2026 financial year.
He informed that though ULLAS was originally envisioned as a volunteer-based programme Government of Nagaland has decided to implement the programme through the involvement of already-employed government teachers to ensure the successful implementation of the programme.
He said the scheme focuses on five broad objectives in line with National Education Policy (NEP) 2020 which is Functional literacy and Numeracy (FLN), Critical Skills, Vocational Skills, and continuous education.
Encouraging trainees educators to reach out to those who never had the privilege of learning through these programme he said no one understands the value of education better than a teacher for which we must see this as a shared responsibility and an opportunity to uplift our own people, especially those who never had the chance to enter a classroom and strive to make Nagaland a first fully literate state in India.
Welcome address was delivered by Kiyeshi Sema, DEO Kiphire and programme chaired by Throngpise David,LDA, DEO, Kiphire, while vote of thanks was pronounced by T Lirila Sangtam, ADEO, Kiphire.
