Nagaland launches ‘Foundation Literacy & Numeracy’ programme

To cover about 33,795 children in 1676 government schools

Our Correspondent
Kohima | March 26

In consonance with the new National Education Policy 2020 towards building a strong foundation in the elementary education, Nagaland has launched ‘Foundation Literacy & Numeracy’ programme.’

To carry forward this programme in the state, Nagaland Education Mission Society, Samagra Shiksha Nagaland has initiated a two day State Level Training for District and Block Level resource persons here at Capital Convention Centre.

Addressing the introductory session today, Shanavas C, IAS, principal director school education, Nagaland maintained that the most important in the school education is elementary education, for which foundational literacy and numeracy is very important.

He stressed on the need to teach the young kids to know well the basic of multiplication, subtraction, division.
“We have to encourage them to speak. We have to make sure that they are confident. They are not shy.”

“We have to tell our students- it is okay to do mistake. It is good to do mistake then only you learn,” he said.

If the foundation of a child is not so strong, how can we expect that a child score a good mark or pass the board examinations, Shanavas said.

Stating that “none of us born intelligent,” he said that the interest have to be generated in the child.

If the interest is not there, if we do not do our duty, if we don’t teach our students properly, then don’t expect them to pass the board examinations, he told the trainees.

It is our duty to make them comfortable, enable them to come forward and build their future so that the image of Nagaland will change and Nagaland will also see progress, the principal director said.

Prog to be implemented in 1676 govt schools
Kelhikha Kenye, Deputy Mission Director Samagra Shiksha, Nagaland in his keynote address said that someone defined literacy as the ability to read, write, speak, spell, grammar knowledge and ability to listen. Numeracy as the ability to count, solve problems, ability to make sense of time, numbers, patterns and shapes. The ability to use mathematics with confidence and efficiency.

Kenye said that new Education Policy (NEP) 2020 defines Foundational Literacy and Numeracy as the ability to read, write and perform basic numeric operations.

He said that NEP has clearly stated the urgency to achieve literacy and mumeracy for all children in the country and set the target to achieve universal foundational literacy and numeracy by 2025.

“This is necessitated due to poor learning outcomes of the children as reflected in several reports including Annual Status of Education Reports (ASER),” he said.

ASER 2020 report indicated digital inequality and learning loss in rural India, he said.

He said that reading enhancement under Foundational Literacy and Numeracy will be implemented for Class 1 & 2 in all the 1676 Government Schools with student’s enrollment to cover about 33,795 children.

Kenye said that this programme will involve 3352 teachers- 2 teachers from each school who are teaching class 1 & 2.

After the completion of the State Level Training for the District / Block Resource Persons, these teachers will be trained based on the training modules developed by the SCERT subject experts on the basis of present Class 1 & 2 Math and Language textbooks.

The Teaching Learning Materials (TLMS) will be provided to the schools as per the requirement of the training module. The 2 days State Level training shall comprise of 8 intensive sessions, he said.

He said the District / Block Resource Persons shall replicate the same training in the District / Block Level.

Towards improving learning outcomes of children
Kenye said the aim of this ‘Foundation Literacy & Numeracy’ programme is to bring about joyful learning environment in the classrooms and improve learning outcomes of children.

On day one, Roseline Richa, Reader, SCERT Nagaland talked on “Foundational Literacy and Numeracy and the importance of brain development in the early years.”

Lanukhala Jamir, Reader, SCERT Nagaland talked on “Development of mathematical processes” while Vepilu Chuzho, Research Associate SCERT Nagaland and Vilakhole Naki, Research Associate, SCERT Nagaland talked on “Development of number sense” and “Development of number operations” respectively.

On March 26, Kekhriesenuo Kesiezie, Research Associate, SCERT Nagaland, Ani Sekhose, Research Associate SCERT Nagaland, Soniam, TRA, SCERT Nagaland and Vekutilii Veyie, Senior Lecturer, SCERT Nagaland will talk on “Phonetics,” “Development of Vocabulary,” “Sight Words” and “Speaking and writing skills” respectively.

Earlier, the introductory session was chaired by Chungngam Konyak, Deputy Mission Director, Samagra Shiksha Nagaland.

Source: https://morungexpress.com/nagaland-launches-foundation-literacy-numeracy-programme