Adults covered in literacy mission get skill certificates

Updated on: Monday, November 23, 2009

New Delhi: Millions of adults covered under the literacy programme of the government may now look forward to formal certification for their education and training on skill development.

The National Institute of Open Schooling (NIOS) is planning to provide certificates to the learners under the literacy programme 'Saakshar Bharat'. 'We are in the process of integrating with Saakshar Bharat programme under which we want to provide certificates to the learners for their education. We want to provide certificates to learners on skill development,' NIOS chairman Sitansu S Jena told reporters today at a function to celebrate the foundation day of NIOS.

He said that certificates of class-III, class-V and class-VIII will be provided to the learners once they complete the courses. The NIOS plans to develop the course materials under the programme.

We are sending a proposal to the government for this initiative. If it happens, a lot of adults will be able to get skill certification which can be of immense help for them in career growth,' Jena said. The government had started the National Literacy Mission in 1986 with a view provide education to illiterate people. However, there was no provision of providing any certificate to the learners under the programme.

The government this year recast the literacy programme with launching of Saakshar Bharat which aims at making 70 million people literate in the next five years. The NIOS will prepare course materials in skill development. The Jan Siskhan Sansthans, which are providing skill development programmes to the neo-literates, will follow the course materials of NIOS.

Jena said that NIOS, which provides schooling to over 1.6 million students in distant mode, will start grading system in the examination. The modalities are being worked out, he said. The NIOS has prepared a scheme for better coordination and networking between open schools in states. The scheme envisages strengthening the state level open school institutes so that they can prepare their course materials.

The open school institutions are there in 14 states. The scheme also envisages starting the open schooling institutes in the rest of the states. The Bihar government has started a 'Hooner' (skill) programme in collaboration with NIOS under which 15,000 girls are being given training on skill development. Jena said the number of learners will be increased to 50,000.

The NIOS is organising a meeting of the Commonwealth Schooling Association. Representatives from 25 Commonwealth countries are participating in this conference. 'We are looking forward to networking between the open school systems in the Commonwealth countries so that we will be able to share the best practices,' Jena said.

Adults covered in literacy mission get skill certificates

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