Haryana’s Education Department target: All to be literate in Ambala by end of 2026
Students are also being motivated to become volunteer teachers, says dept
Aiming to empower non-literate youth and adults (those above 15) with foundational literacy and numeracy, the Education Department in Ambala has set a target to eradicate illiteracy and achieve total literacy in the district by the end of 2026.
As part of the Understanding of Lifelong Learning for All in Society (ULLAS) – Nav Bharat Saaksharta Karyakram programme, Education Department officials, with the help of government school teachers and students, have intensified a campaign to identify non-literate individuals, motivate them to learn, and encourage them to appear in the Foundational Literacy and Numeracy Assessment Test (FLNAT). The test is conducted twice a year (in March and September). Learners are assessed in three subjects — reading, writing and numeracy — with 50 marks each. Those who clear the test receive a mark sheet-cum-literacy certificate equivalent to Class 3.
District Education Officer Sudhir Kalra said, “ULLAS is a centrally sponsored scheme launched in 2022. Based on the 2011 Census, there were expected to be around 31,000 non-literate people in Ambala. However, during a survey conducted by the department, 21,740 such individuals were identified and registered on the ULLAS portal.”
To educate these individuals, volunteer teachers (VTs) are tagged with adult learners. A VT can be anyone, including a teacher, student, relative, gram panchayat member, mid-day meal worker, or any other social worker, he said.
As per the data, out of the total 21,740 registered individuals, 16,548 have appeared in the tests (held three times so far), of whom 15,686 have qualified.
According to education department officials, students are also being motivated to become volunteer teachers. They are tagged with illiterate individuals and, in many cases, the adult learners are their grandparents.
“To motivate children, they are being encouraged to give the gift of education to their elders, as it will not only give them confidence and make them independent but also strengthen their bond. Students who have served as VTs are being honoured at the ULLAS Samman Samaroh held at the block level,” Sudhir Kalra said.
“There are still nearly 5,200 registered individuals who have yet to appear for and qualify the test. Efforts are being made to motivate them and help them become literate. Targets have been given to principals, teachers and students to intensify surveys to ensure that there is no non-literate person in the district,” the DEO informed.
Aniket, a Class 12 student at Government Senior Secondary School, Adhoya, said, “So far, I have taught 12 people and they have all qualified. Most of the adult learners were my neighbours in the village. The majority were in the 40-65 age group. I felt good as my efforts were recognised, and it has motivated me to look for more such people.”
Komal, a former student of Government Senior Secondary School, Balana, who is preparing for a government job, said, “I have taught nearly six people and they have all cleared the test. It feels good to contribute in the field of education and help those who could not attend school in their lives. They had the knowledge, and with a little effort, they managed to qualify for the tests.”
Santosh (55), a resident of Babyal village, said, “I have never been to school in my life. My son, who passed out from a government school, motivated me to register. With the help of teachers, I have qualified the test. I feel good, and I will ask my sister-in-law to get registered and become literate.”
Uchit Das (46) said, “I migrated from Bihar 20 years ago and work as a labourer. My son, who studies in a government school, told me about the programme, so I decided to become literate. Now, I am able to go to the bank to deposit and withdraw money without seeking help from others.”
DEO Sudhir Kalra said, “All efforts are being made to make Ambala a 100 per cent literate district this year. We have been holding block-wise events to motivate school staff and students and honour them for their efforts. We are confident of achieving the target this year.”
