International literacy day
8 September was declared international literacy day by UNESCO on 26 October 1966 at 14th session of UNESCO's General conference. It was celebrated for the first time in 1967.
Aim:- Highlights the importance of literacy to individuals, communities and societies. Celebrations take place in several countries.
What does literate mean in India?
The Census 2011 defines a literate person as, “a person aged seven and above who can both read and write with understanding in any language, is treated as literate. A person, who can only read but cannot write, is not literate.” This definition is similar to that of UNESCO.
UNESCO defines literacy as “the ability to identify, understand, interpret, create, communicate and compute, using printed and written materials associated with varying contexts.”
What is India’s rank in literacy?
According to the 2005 UNESCO Global Education Monitoring Report, which incorporates the 2001 census, India ranked 106 out of 127 countries surveyed in terms of literacy. India ranks 123 out of 135 countries in terms of female literacy rate.
What is the literacy rate in India?
Literacy rate in India stands at 74% as per Census 2011. There is a stark difference between male and female literacy rates, which stand 82% and 65% respectively. There is a wider gap in literacy rates of different castes. The literacy rate of Scheduled Tribes stands at 58.96%, while the Scheduled Castes is at 66.10%
Which state has the highest literacy in India?
Kerala has the highest literacy rate in India, at 94%, with male literacy rate at 96.1% and female literacy rate at 92.1%.
Which state has lowest literacy rate in India?
Bihar has the lowest literacy rate in India, at 61.80%, while India’s literacy rate is 74.04%. Female literacy rate in Bihar stands at 51.5%, while the male literacy rate is much higher, at 71.2%.
How many are illiterate in India?
India has the largest population of illiterate adults in the world – 287 million, which is 37% of the global total.
Why is illiteracy a problem in India?
Illiteracy affects an individual in all areas of their life. An illiterate individual cannot read and write, and thus cannot join the workforce or may work as unskilled labour, lack awareness to make an informed decision which affects them and their community. Further, children of illiterate parents do not receive the same education as children of educated parents. Even if they go to the same school, children of illiterate parents lack the kind of awareness educated parents can give to their children. Hence, illiteracy becomes a vicious cycle affecting the social and economic development of India.
What is the main cause of illiteracy?
Illiteracy in India is because of a complex web of social and economic divide in the country. Economic disparities, gender discrimination, caste discrimination, and technological barriers lead to illiteracy in India. India has the largest population of illiterate adults, which further contribute to this vicious cycle of illiteracy in India.
Is illiteracy the cause of poverty?
There is a strong relationship between illiteracy and poverty. Literacy is defined as the “ability to read and write”. Thus, an illiterate person, who cannot read or write, is unable to get a skilled job and is forced to take up an unskilled job. This has an impact on his wages, the standard of living and ultimately his ability to provide proper education to his children. This would also mean that his children will not be able to improve their skills and get a better job and eventually come out of poverty. An unlettered person is unable to access proper healthcare, understand their fundamental rights and demand for the same.
How can we end illiteracy?
Illiteracy creates several hurdles in the development of a country and affects every person in that country. Here are five ways by which we can end illiteracy in India:
1. Inclusive Education
The RTE Act (2009) has resulted in increased enrolment of children in schools, but the Act is applicable for children between 6-14 years of age. Children, especially girl children, who drop out of school after 14 years of age, find it almost impossible to continue their education. The purview of the Act must be increased to make education accessible to every individual.
2. Increased investment in government schools
Due to lack of funds, the government schools are unable to invest in providing basic facilities to children. Lack of functioning toilets, hand-washing area, and drinking water compels children, especially girl children to drop out of school. On the other hand, private schools with high-end facilities charge exorbitant fee making it impossible for those from the marginalised communities to access services. Increasing government expenditure in public schools will make them more accessible.
3. Vocational Training
Often school education alone does not provide the skills required to enter the workforce. The current system of rote learning without practical training affects the quality of education and fails to develop employable skill sets. Thus, vocational training is important to fill this gap. Carpentry, plumbing, stitching, and nursing are some of the skills which can help individuals seek fulfilling employment.
4. Teacher training
The education system cannot be enhanced without trained and educated teachers. Lack of qualified teachers in both public and private schools impact learning outcomes of children. There is a need for drastic changes to ensure that schools hire qualified teachers, availability of qualified teachers, and opportunities for individuals to be trained as teachers.
5. Changing social norms
Social norms play a huge role in determining the growth of a country. Regressive social norms result in girls dropping out schools or children not being sent to school at all, and this creates a vicious cycle of illiteracy and patriarchal norms for even future generations.
Source:-Oxfam
Wikipedia
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