Page 12 - EDUSURE - May-June_2022

First Step - olimettu

Foundational Literacy And cepts, make connections between
Numeracy (FLN) related ideas, and progressively ap-
ply their understanding in new and
very child looks to parents, unfamiliar contexts.
relatives, and other caretakers Challenges
Eas their first teachers in order
to acquire the necessary abilities to The National Policy on Education
become independent and enjoy (NEP, 2020) highlights that various
happy, healthy lives. The children of governmental as well as non-govern-
age group 3-9 are curious and en- mental surveys clearly indicate that,
quiring by nature, as they strive to at the current time, we are in a severe
explore and understand the world learning crisis with respect to these
around them. To address this curios- most basic skills: a large proportion
ity of children and instill a lifelong of students, currently in elementary
love of learning that prepares them school have not attained foundational
to enter the formal education on the literacy and numeracy, i.e., the ability
same level as their more fortunate to read and comprehend basic text
peer, sustainable literacy and nu- and the ability to carry out basic ad-
meracy skills are essential. Learning dition and subtraction with Indian
in higher classes is based on the numerals. Numerous studies show
foundational learning in the primary that, in the current educational sys-
classes. If the students don’t acquire tem, once students fall behind on
the ability to read, write and perform foundational literacy and numeracy,
basic mathematical operations, they they tend to maintain flat learning
will not be equipped for the complex- curves for years, perpetually unable
ities of curriculum in higher classes. to catch up. So many capable students
The focus must be on providing ac- have found themselves in this unfor-
cess and retaining children in foun- tunate black hole, unable to emerge.
dational years of schooling, building For many students, this has become
the teachers’ capacity, development a major reason for not attending
of high-quality teaching and learning school, or for dropping out altogether.
materials and addressing the needs The National Achievement Survey
of children in the foundational years. (NAS) – 2021 results reveal that
Importance of Literacy and around 70% of students are at mini-
Numeracy mum level or below in the language
acquisition. It seriously affects the
Early literacy and numeracy skills learning of students.
are not only foundational for learn- Therefore, the Ministry of Educa-
ing but are correlated with greater tion, Government of India has
quality of life, personal well-being, launched the National Initiative for
national stability, prosperity and are Proficiency in Reading with Under-
critical for educational outcomes in standing and Numeracy (NIPUN 2026-27, as an immediate national indeed forms the basis of all future
later years. Strong literacy and nu- Bharat) mission along with a de- mission. Students, along with their learning.
meracy help children to learn, ex- tailed implementation guideline for schools, teachers, parents, and com- Role of CSF in FLN Mission:
periment, reason and create, to be the states to ensure that every child munities, must be urgently sup-
active and informed citizens, and to in the country necessarily attains ported and encouraged in every way A Steering Committee has been
contribute socially, culturally and foundational literacy and numeracy possible to help carry out this all- constituted for developing and oper-
economically. Lack of learning op- (FLN) by the end of Grade 3, by important target and mission, which ationalizing a reform program to at-
portunities during the early stages tain foundational literacy and nu-
of acquiring literacy and numeracy meracy in Telangana on 14thOctober
impede children’s academic 2019. A system diagnosis has been
progress and motivation, resulting conducted to understand systemic
in further lack of achievement. challenges impeding achievement of
Vision grade-level competencies, and in-
formed reform design. Further, the
The vision for foundational liter- Department also partnered with
acy and numeracy therefore is to en- Central Square Foundation (CSF) in
able children to become independ- designing a program to improve
ent and engaged readers and writers foundational learning levels in the
who are able to transition from state. The programme aims to take
‘learning to read’ to ‘reading to an integrated systems approach to
learn’ and from ‘learning to write’ to improve Foundational Literacy and
‘writing for academic success and Numeracy in grades 1-3, along with a
pleasure’. Children demonstrate an 3-month School Preparation Module
understanding of numbers and across Telangana. The School Prepa-
knowledge of mathematical con- FLN Programme Roadmap for AY 2022-23 ration Module will support children

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