Syllabus:

GS2: Issues relating to development and management of Social Sector/Services relating to Health, Education, Human Resources.

Context: 

Recently, Mizoram has become the first state in India to be officially declared fully 'literate' under the ULLAS (Understanding Lifelong Learning for All in Society) initiative.

More on the News

• The Chief Minister of Mizoram announced the milestone during a formal ceremony at the Mizoram University Auditorium.

• As per the Periodic Labour Force Survey (PLFS) 2023–24, Mizoram’s literacy rate has reached 98.2%.

• This surpasses the 95% threshold required to qualify as a fully literate state under the ULLAS scheme.

• This achievement was declared under the ULLAS – Understanding of Lifelong Learning for All in Society and the Nav Bharat Saaksharta Karyakram (New India Literacy Programme).

• The CM claimed that the School Education Department's persistent efforts, especially through Samagra Shiksha and the New India Literacy Programme (Nav Bharat Saksharta Karyakram), were responsible for the historic achievement.

Survey and Participation under ULLAS – Nav Bharat Saaksharta Karyakram

• As part of the ULLAS – Nav Bharat Saaksharta Karyakram (New India Literacy Programme), a door-to-door survey was conducted in August–September 2023.

• The survey was carried out by Cluster Resource Centre Coordinators (CRCCs) across Mizoram.

• A total of 3,026 non-literate individuals were identified. Out of these, 1,692 individuals actively participated in the programme’s teaching-learning activities.

Institutional Support and Learning Resources

• A State Center for Literacy was established under SCERT to support literacy initiatives.

• Several educational tools were developed:

• Vartian – A Mizo-language study resource
• English translations for learners in Lawngtlai district
• Margdarshika – A guidebook for Volunteer Teachers
• Romei – A workbook for Students

Understanding of Lifelong Learning for All in Society (ULLAS)

• ULLAS is a centrally sponsored scheme implemented from 2022-2027.

• It aims to cover all the aspects of Education For All (erstwhile termed as Adult Education) to align with the National Education Policy 2020.

• The scheme works  online through volunteerism. 

• The scheme covers non-literates of the age group of 15 years and above in all states/UTs in the country. 

• The target for Foundational Literacy and Numeracy for FYs 2022-27 is 5 (five) crore learners at 1.00 crore learners per year by using 

• "Online Teaching, Learning and Assessment System (OTLAS)" 
• National Informatics Centre (NIC)
• National Council of Educational Research and Training (NCERT) 
• National Institute of Open Schooling (NIOS).