September 8, 2018
Literacy rate in Bangla higher than national average
Today is the 52nd International Literacy Day. A padayatra will be organised from the Gandhi Statue on Mayo Road to commemorate the occasion. A cultural function will also be held at Rabindra Sadan.
The State Government is committed to achieving 100% literacy rate in Bangla. To that effect, schemes and programmes are being implemented in Murshidabad, Malda, North and South Dinajpur, Jalpaiguri, Cooch Behar, Birbhum, Jalpaiguri, Purulia and Bankura.
Although the Centre has stopped giving funds for national literacy programme, the State Government has been running various programmes with its own funds.
A regional office of Mass Education Extension Directorate was set up in Malda for better monitoring of the issues of the districts of Malda, Uttar Dinajpur, Dakshin Dinajpur and Murshidabad.
On International Literacy Day today, let us take a look at the achievements of the State’s Directorate of Mass Education Extension.
Initiatives for students with disabilities and inmates of social welfare homes:
E-learning of Indian Sign Language (ISL)-based grammar for normal and specially-abled students sanctioned
Upper age limit for inmates in social welfare homes modified to enable stay till passing of Higher Secondary examination or attaining of 18 years of age, whichever is earlier
For meeting needs of districts, intake capacity of social welfare homes increased to 7,587
New schemes for providing school bags and school shoes, and reference books to inmates of social welfare homes introduced
State-level sports meet among inmates of social welfare homes organised for financial year 2017-18
Special Schools and social welfare homes under Mass education Extension & Library Services Department plotted on GIS map along with relevant data
Greetings card for New Year 2017 printed by State Government containing sketches by students with disabilities and inmates of social welfare homes
Initiatives for sponsored special schools:
Management structure of special schools sponsored by State Government revamped
Hostel subsidy and contingency of students of sponsored special schools enhanced from Rs 1,000 to Rs 1,600 per student per month and from Rs 400 to Rs 700 per student per annum, respectively
School Education Department roped in to provide free textbooks, implementation of information and communications technology (ICT) and free mid-day meals
Webel Mediatronics Limited roped in to provide free Braille textbooks for visually-challenged students of sponsored special schools
State Health Department roped in to provide free health check-up for students and inmates of sponsored special schools and welfare homes
State Women & Child Development and Social Welfare Department roped in for extending benefits of Kanyashree Prakalpa for girl students of sponsored special schools
Saakshar Bharat Programme (SBP)
The scheme is now under implementation in nine districts – Cooch Behar, Jalpaiguri, Uttar Dinajpur, Dakshin Dinajpur, Malda, Murshidabad, Birbhum, Bankura and Purulia.
More than 49 lakh non-literates mobilised for undergoing basic literacy course
20 model Adult Education Centres under SBP set up
