Kerala: Project to bridge gap in literacy

Thiruvananthapuram: The Kerala State Literacy Mission Authority will flag off a comprehensive  ‘Aksharalaksham’ project on Republic Day to bridge the literacy gap caused by those who have been left out of the project. It will also publish a comprehensive report on school dropouts soon. KSLMA director P.S. Sreekala told Deccan Chronicle that the project is meant to achieve 100 per cent literacy in the state. The state has achieved total literacy as per UNESCO norms. However, the 2011 Census had revealed 18 lakh illiterates in the state.

A survey conducted as part of the project focusing on people in the six to 75 age group has found  47,241 illiterates. The maximum number is  in Palakkad with 10,348 and the least in Pathana-mthitta with 434. The survey details were collected from 14, 23,667 people in these wards by volunteers. The number of illiterates in the 16 to 75 age target group  is 46,349. The literacy classes as part of the project will begin in the 2,086 wards with the recitation of the preamble to the Constitution. In the next phase, all other wards of the state will be brought under the initiative, said Ms Sreekala. 

Examinations will be held in the first week of April after completing 100 days of instruction. The KSLMA is planning to hold total literacy announcements in the wards on April 18.  The report on school dropout is being prepared on the basis of a questionnaire to determine the reason for dropping out of school. The questions will find out issues like the absence of schools nearby, financial constraints, health problems, bad experiences in school, reluctance of parents and other reasons.