PANJIM: The Goa government is aiming to declare the State as 100 per cent literate by December 19 this year, Chief Minister Pramod Sawant said, adding that efforts are on to educate the illiterate population which is around two per cent in the State.
He was speaking during the launch of 'KILBIL' workbooks and learning material for students and 'Tarang' books for parents on how to take revision of their children, developed by the Goa Samagra Shiksha. He also released play education with blooms of Taxonomy, a kit for teachers, making teaching easy.
Sawant said, the State’s literacy rate was estimated to be more than 98 per cent. Barring the three talukas of Quepem, Canacona and Sanguem, illiterate population in the rest of Goa has been identified and trained, he added.
According to Sawant, around 3,000 senior citizens have been trained, 700 of whom have already answered the qualifying examination while remaining 2,300 have been imparted training and they will answer their exams on July 14 at designated locations mostly panchayat halls and centre of their choice.
Sawant said that illiterate population in the remaining three talukas will be identified by the Directorate of Panchayats by October 2 this year and will submit their names to the SCERT (State Council of Education Research and Training), who will depute volunteer/trainer, who will visit their residences, teach them and make them to answer their exams by November 30. He said, youth from these talukas can approach the SCERT, if they wish to be part of the initiative. They will be paid due honorarium, he added.
The Chief Minister further disclosed that a get together of these3,000 senior citizens, who learnt to read and write will be held at the SCERT premises, Porvorim on August 9. The programme will be organised under the centrally sponsored scheme ULLAS (Understanding of Lifelong Learning for All in Society), where the beneficiaries will read books and write in the presence of officials from Government of India.
Kerala is the only State in India to have 100 per cent literacy rate,Sawant said, adding, “I don’t want anybody in the State to remain illiterate and make the State 100 per cent literate in all respect.”
Meanwhile, Chief Minister Pramod Sawant will hold live interaction programme on career guidance with the students and teachers from standard VIII to X of the secondary schools of the State under Swayampurna Goa from official residence at Mahalaxmi, Altinho, Panjim at 10.30 am on Saturday, July 6.