Literacy scenario in Tripura

Indraneel Bhowmik

Lecture at NSS Special Camp , Women’s College Agartala

The traditional definition of literacy —

the ability to read and write, or the ability to use language to read, write, listen, and

speak.

In modern contexts- reading and writing at a level adequate for communication, or at a

level that lets one understand and communicate ideas in a literate society, so as to take

part in that society.

The United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO):-

“Literacy is the ability to identify, understand, interpret, create, communicate, compute

and use printed and written materials associated with varying contexts. Literacy involves

a continuum of learning to enable an individual to achieve his or her goals, to develop

his or her knowledge and potential, and to participate fully in the wider society."

WHAT IS LITERACY?

When is a person considered "literate":

�able to sign his/her name

�able to read/write a simple sentence describing one's daily activities

�able to read and write, by his/her self-report (not based on a test)

�able to pass a written test of reading comprehension at a level comparable to

that achieved by an average student at grade 4

�able to engage in all those activities in which literacy is required for effective

functioning in his/her community

Alternatively

A person is literate

�if s/he can both read and write a short simple statement

�describe his/her everyday life.

�A person is functionally literate if s/he can engage in all those activities in

which literacy is required for effective functioning of his/her group and

community and also for enabling him/her to continue to use reading, writing,

and calculation for his own and the community's development.

�A person is literate if s/he has completed 5 or more years of schooling.

NUMERACY

•Reading and writing numerals

1-100.

•Doing simple calculations

(without fraction) involving

addition and subtraction up to 3

digits, and multiplication and

division by 2 digits.

•Working knowledge of metric

units weights, measures

currency, distance, area and

unit of time.

•Broad idea of proportion and

interests (not involving

fractions) and their use in

practical situations.

WRITING

•Copying, with understanding, 7

words a minute.

•Taking dictation at 5 words a

minute.

•Writing with proper spacing

and alignment.

•Writing independently, short

letters and applications, and

filling in forms of day-to-day

use to the learner.

READING

•Reading aloud, with normal

accent, and at a speed of 30

words a minute, a simple

passage on a topic of interest

to the learner.

•Silent reading at 35 words a

minute, of small paragraphs in

simple language.

•Reading with understanding

the road signs, posters, simple

instructions and

newspapers/broadsheets

designed for neo-literates.

•Ability to follow simple written

passages relating to one's

working and living

environment.

LITERACY IN INDIAN POLICY- National Literacy Mission

Functional Literacy should take into account

Literacy: -“ A person aged 7 years and above who can both read and write with understanding

in any language has been taken as literate. It is not necessary for a person to have

received any formal education or passed any minimum educational standard for

being treated as literate. People who were blind and could read in Braille are treated

literates. A person who can neither read nor write or can only read but can not write

in any language is treated as illiterate. All children of age of six years or less, even

going to school and have picked up reading and writing are treated as literate.”

Literacy Rate: -Literacy rate of population is defined as the percentage of literates to the total

population age 7 years and above.

THE CENSUS DEFINATIONS

Literacy Rate= (Number of literates/Population above 7 years) X 100

International Literacy Day

Nodal Agency--- UNESCO

Declaration on November 17, 1965.

1st celebrations in 1966.

Aim - highlight the importance of literacy to individuals, communities and societies.

Some 774 million adults lack minimum literacy skills;

one in five adults is still not literate and two-thirds of them are women;

72.1 million children are out-of-school and many irregular & finally drops out.

South and West Asia has the lowest regional adult literacy rate (58.6%),

followed by sub-Saharan Africa (59.7%), and the Arab States (62.7%). {UNESCO’s

"Global Monitoring Report on Education for All (2006)" }

Clear connection between illiteracy and poverty,

between illiteracy and prejudice against women.

UNESCO’s Four Pillars

Learning to be: the right to self-definition and self-identification

Learning to know: the right to self-knowledge

Learning to do: the right to self-development

Learning to live together: the right to self-determination

•Millennium Development Goals- UN

‘Education For ALL’

•United Nations Literacy Decade [2003-2012]

The biennium celebration theme for 2007-2008

is

“Literacy and Health”.

International

Literacy Day 2008

has a strong

emphasis on

‘Literacy and

Epidemics’

with a focus on

communicable

diseases such as-

HIV, Tuberculosis &

Malaria

•Human Benefits - individual’s self-esteem, confidence and personal empowerment

•Political Benefits- political participation, democracy, ethnic equality, post conflict

situations

•Cultural Benefits- Cultural change, Preservation of cultural diversity

•Social Benefits- Health, Reproductive behaviour, Education, Gender Equality

•Economic Benefits- Economic Growth, Return to Investment

The benefits of literacy-

Literacy Spread- The World Over

Positive (+) correlation between literacy & development

Lowest literacy rates- Burkina Faso(12.8%), Niger (14.4%) & Mali (19%).

Uttar Pradesh (61.7)Mizoram (95.8)Female

Uttar Pradesh (76.8)Mizoram (96.4)Male

Uttar Pradesh (69.8)Mizoram (96.1)Person

Urban

Bihar (29.6)Kerala (86.7)Female

Bihar (57.1)Kerala (93.7)Male

Bihar (43.9)Kerala (90.0)Person

Rural

Bihar (33.1)Kerala (87.7)Female

Bihar (59.7)Kerala (94.2)Male

Bihar (47.0)Kerala (90.9)Person

Total

LowestHighest

Disparity- in India

8.28.660.65.518.79.515.7Gap

8579.281.495.883.57080.269.5Female

93.287.887.496.48988.789.785.2Male

89.283.984.796.186.379.385.378.3Person

Urban

17.916.510.17.6620.317.520.8Gap

60.55857.577.353.25750.736.9Female

78.474.567.684.959.277.368.257.7Male

69.766.862.881.356.367.359.747.8Person

Rural

16.115.69.745.819.816.720.3Gap

64.960.461.586.759.660.554.643.5Female

817671.290.765.480.371.363.8Male

73.268.866.688.862.670.563.354.3Person

Total

TripuraSikkimNagalandMizoramMeghalayaManipurAssamArunachal States

Literacy Situation in the North East India- 2001 Census

16.165.481.573.72001

20.949.770.660.41991

23.538.061.550.11981

19.021.240.231.01971

19.410.229.624.31961

14.308.022.315.51951

10.282.4612.747.951941

5.410.525.933.431931

13.201.1214.328.211921

7.140.928.064.761911

GapFemaleMalePersonYear

0

10

20

30

40

50

60

70

80

90

1911 1921 1931 1941 1951 1961 1971 1981 1991 2001

0

10

20

30

40

50

60

70

80

Male

Female

Gap

Person

Literacy Scenario in Tripura

16.121.08.212.417.922.7Tripura

14.418.55.99.715.519.8North Tripura

19.221.89.98.719.722.0Dhalai

18.622.67.613.019.423.3South Tripura

15.020.78.512.417.723.8West Tripura

200119912001199120011991

TotalUrbanRuralDistrict/State

Gender Gap in Literacy

Source: THDR, 2007

0

5

10

15

20

25

1991 2001 1991 2001 1991 2001

Rural Urban Total

West Tripura South Tripura Dhalai North Tripura Tripura

44.668.067.281.8Tripura

38.761.471.883.7North Tripura

33.457.063.277.4Dhalai

38.463.468.484.0South Tripura

55.878.366.281.2West Tripura

FemaleMale FemaleMale

STSCDistrict/State

0

10

20

30

40

50

60

70

80

90

West Tripura South Tripura Dhalai North Tripura Tripura

SC Male SC Female ST Male ST Female

Literacy Rates Literacy Rates Literacy Rates Literacy Rates among the among the among the among the backward backward backward backward sectionssectionssectionssections

53.028.941.5Dumburnagar

81.066.374.0Jampuii hills46.118.533.1Chhamanu

63.142.953.4Dasda64.344.554.8Ambassa

85.072.278.8Kumarghat72.850.061.9Manu

78.259.869.3Pencharthal79.464.372.0Salema

62.836.249.9Damchhara71.650.761.5Mungiakami

88.176.782.6Panisagar69.953.361.9Kathalia

84.17077.2Kadamtala79.662.471.2Melaghar

73.95866.1Gournagar74.456.165.6Boxanagar

85.266.676.2Bishalgarh

68.645.657.5Ompi77.048.863.3Jampuijala

83.964.974.7Satchand87.172.980.2Dukli

64.839.152.4Rupaichhari84.468.076.5Jirania

61.135.848.9Karbuk76.454.665.6Mandai

77.658.768.4Bagafa79.860.470.6Teliamura

8062.771.7Hrishyamukh87.270.979.1Kalyanpur

8365.174.3Rajnagar75.756.566.2Tulashikhar

84.668.376.6Kakraban86.874.280.6Khowai

82.165.974.3Matabari84.563.474.1Pabmabil

70.946.459.0Amarpur71.750.461.2Hezamara

64.842.853.7Killa81.565.673.9Mohanpur

MaleFemalePersonArea NameMaleFemalePersonArea Name

33.1- 61.9

62.0 - 70.6

76.1- 82.7

70.7-76.0

The LITERACY SPREAD

People need literacy skills-

�to read a bus schedule or the daily newspaper,

�to calculate the dosage for medication,

�to use a computer program, or

�to follow and engage in a debate about government policy.

Being able to read, understand, and act on written material and basic numerical

information is fundamental for parents, students, workers, community members, and

citizens.

At the individual level, low literacy skills have an impact on people’s ability to support

themselves and their family. Low income, poor health, and social exclusion are all

associated with low literacy.

At the economic and societal level, low literacy skills can be a barrier to having the

highly skilled productive work force and strong thriving communities that underpin a high

standard of living.

Let us

all strive

towards

the

goal……………

………..