Adult Illiteracy

1. Adult Illiteracy A systemic approach to address a societal problem through effective use of Information Technology

2. 90.00% 80.00% 70.00% 60.00% Total 50.00% Rural 40.00% Urban 30.00% 20.00% 10.00% 0.00% Persons Males Females • ILLITERACY • PROBLEM • The problem of literacy is a major social concern with a fifth of the Indian Population: old, & young, adults - 200 million • The present literacy rate is around 65%. In 1991,it was 52%. Therefore, literacy has incresed by 13% over 10 years - an increase of 1.3% per annum. • As of now there are 200 million adults who are still illiterate. At the above annual rate it will take a minimum of 20 to 25 years to clear this backlog of the literacy. This is an unacceptable time frame. • The present way of learning reading and writing is the traditional method of learning to read after learning to write. Alphabet is taught first and then the words. The entire exercise takes anywhere between 6 months to two years in classrooms with trained teachers. Also, to use current methods, the number of trained teachers required to achieve the goal will be around 1 million teachers. Literacy Rates in India

3. Scourge • Over 200 million adult illiterates in India • Spread of literacy and population growth are at par with each other – leading to near stagnation in wiping out adult illiteracy • The National Literacy Mission has shown the will, the Government has the infrastructure, the NGOs are keen – but the logistics seem to outweigh the the effort

4. WHY LITERACY • Literacy increases awareness and facilitates responsible action • Adult literacy will move the people & country forward • It will lead to empowerment of people

5. In the Age of Information Reading is a fundamental skill • Provides access to vast storehouse of knowledge • Is on the path to acquisition of the other basic skills like wRiting and aRithmetic, given good self-instructional material • Is at the crux of self-development

6. Present Methodology From Alphabets to Writing Functional Literacy • Literacy Missions in the States and at Centre level have done a remarkable job and has produced the best researched material available in printed form in every Indian Language • Has a consistent underlying philosophy • Has built infrastructure to reach all States in India Literacy means: • Reading and writing in an Indian Language plus arithmetic • Reading speed of 30 words a minute

7. What we need • Innovative methods to meet the objective of making India 90-95% literate within next three / five years. • If one can read then the other two arts can be self learnt. Reading can be taught in a natural way by focusing on words than on alphabet.

8. Review of Present Methodology & its constraints Constraints • Trained and dedicated teachers are in short supply • The teaching program takes long to administer • Due to the duration of the program, which is 6 months to 2 years, the rate of drop outs is high • The focus is on achieving literacy levels as specified by WHO - Writing, Reading, & Figures simultaneously hinders the speed of learning • At present rate, to achieve literacy levels of 95%, it will take 25 years

9. How - A Cognitive Approach & Process Approach • Develop innovative methods using theories of cognition, language and communication. Process • Cognition takes place directly, indirectly and inferentially • directly though the recognition of the Graphic patterns, Icons, Images, etc. • indirectly through the association with the sound patterns of the scripted words and the structure in stringing of the words as sentences. • Inferentially interpreting and understanding the implied meanings.

10. A Cognitive Approach • Adults know the sounds of words and the things they denote in the real world • They need to connect between the spoken sound and the written graphics • Their cognitive abilities can be drawn upon to first recognize the written form of the word • Words are then divided into syllables which are spoken and written as a whole • From syllables we proceed to uttered sounds and then to the alphabet • The alphabet is an end to the means of coping with unending variety

11. The Solution • Exploit innate intelligence and cognitive capability & derive advantage from phonetic nature of Indian Languages • Organize for teaching reading skills first through cognition of written words, syllables and letters - Adapt from the material produced by the National Literacy Mission • Prepare and debug the computer based material through field trials, for each Indian Language • Develop technological aids to facilitate support, monitoring and control • Do necessary technology development to simplify coping with variety in Indian Languages • Develop Portals for library of lessons and explore WLL technology for Transmission & later networking

12. What needs to be done • Innovative methods to meet the objective of making people literate within next five years. • If one can read then the other two arts can be self learnt. Reading can be taught in a natural way by focusing on words than on alphabet. • So there is a need to devise a method of developing reading capability to start with. The writing and figure work can be self taught following the ability to read. The method should do away the need for trained teachers • Using computers & IT to facilitate the process.

13. System Under Experimentation • Adopts Systems Approach and Concurrent Engineering Methodology as Adult Illiteracy needs systemic solutions • IT & Multimedia based support for training in adults own language • IT is used to monitor administration and management logistics • IT is a medium & this is to be combined with communications & networking

14. Method • The Computer Based Functional Literacy method provides an Audio-Visual animated book using old computers. Experienced teachers devise the sequence of instruction, which is amplified manifold by supervisors. The pace of instruction is dictated by the learner.

15. This CBFL method is implemented using computers and flash cards. This method can be used to learn reading a language that is spoken by the learner. With this method reading can be learnt within 30-40 learning hours, spread over 1 to 1.5 hours sessions, 3 times a week, over a period of 8 to 10 weeks.

16. Technology to the aid • The need to complement and supplement tools • Technology is useful only when it is a multiplier • Technology is useful only when it enhances performance and establishes uniform quality • Is not an end in itself – it is a human problem that we deal with

17. letters and sounds lesson scripts rule based reasoning case based reasoning speech synthesis engine graphics engine wallpaper performance monitor story board speech analysis engine multimedia engine computer based learning environment

18. sex logistics group nation site state demographics management course district lesson mandal language NGOs trusts trainer training agencies course ware businesses FAQs government corporations help desk portal for adult literacy services

19. Managing relationships with participating agencies Managing course material in all Indian languages Managing demographics by linguistic and geographic region, & sex Managing logistics of delivery of courses at all sites help desk Future plans: portal for adult literacy services

20. literacy training site wireless local loop technology literacy training site literacy training site literacy training site literacy training site Networking needs internet rural exchanges

21. 10 KM Radius 10 KM Radius PORTAL PORTAL Instruction Units

22. Experiments with Telugu in Andhra Pradesh in Medak and Guntur Districts • Tried in over 80 centres • Over a 1000 adults trained • Participation by TCS, NLM, Government, Andhra Mahila Sabha, District, Mandal and Panchayat bodies • Telugu lessons have been through 4 revisions • Experimentation with Cable TV for delivery Power problems Equipment problems Need for monitoring progress Need for a project office Need for networking Need for automation in rendering lessons

23. TCS experiments – a beginning • Builds into the National Literacy Mission’s programme and supplements and complements it • Uses computers to propagate reading skills in 40 hours of instruction over 8 to 10 weeks • Multiplies a teachers ability to scale up in numbers • Lowers the entry barrier for experience in teachers • Gets neo literates to be self motivated and independent in their efforts to learn further

24. Total number of current operational centres – 212 Total number of adults who have learned to read during Feb-May 2002 –2618 Current active batches, due to complete between July and September – 1874 Drop outs - 549 Current success rate – 89% Expectations Number of Centres by end June – 415 Scale up: between 8,000 to 10,000 to be addressed by these centres Current Status in Guntur District

25. What we need to work on • Technology multiplier and quality enhancer effects in evidence in best sites • Class management is one source of failing to get the most out of technology • Lack of effective learning environment at many sites is another failing • Inadequate use of resources, lack of motivation to absorb change are the factors in the worst cases • Monitoring remote sites and their facilitation requires logistics in excess of current efforts

26. Current preparedness • Tamil CBFL deployed • Hindi, Bengali and Marathi CBFL available but not fully tested • Push and Pull versions experimented with • Manual Development

27. Imminent directions • Speech recognition and synthesis to be used • Automation in converting scripts to CBT presentations • Enhancing the learning environment • Networking of remote sites Portal to be built

28. For each language State Resource Centres have their material (3+1 primers) Scripts for teaching reading skills to be prepared from the material of these primers – 2 person months Dry runs to appreciate the dynamics of the lessons – 1 person month About 22-24 lessons cover the primers Production of CBFL material 12 person months to produce the Macromedia Flash based CBTs 2 – 3 calendar months to experiment with and revise the material – 6 person month effort Can be done in 4-5 calendar months and 2 person year effort Needs professional voices for good quality CBTs – is expensive 5-6 technical people over 5-6 months An Assessment of Effort

29. The size of the problem in Andhra Pradesh ~ a tenth of the Indian problem 20,000 habitations 20,000 classroom sites 20 - 40,000 computers * minimum 5 million students p.a. ~15 -25 million students in 3-5 years *with facilitators supported by computers, in place of trained teachers • 15-20 students a class • 3 days a week • 1.5 - 2 hours a day • 2 batches a day • 4 batches a week • 8 - 10 week course • 60-80 students a term • 6 terms a year • 360-480 students p.a.

30. Languages The Hindi Belt Hindi, Marathi, Gujarati, Rajasthani The Eastern Region Bengali, Oriya, Assamese The Southern Region Tamil, (Telugu, Kannada), Malyalam The Northern Region Punjabi, Haryanvi, Urdu? Computers 2 Million computers over 5 years inclusive of replacements Pentium 1 and up, 16-32 MB, 3-10GB HDD, Multimedia, CD, networking is optional UPS, SpikeGuard, … Logistics in sourcing, checking, packaging, shipping, customs, unpacking, forwarding, installing, maintaining, retiring, disposing safely The road ahead

31. Government State Resource Centres State Literacy Mission Secretariat IT Secretary Secretary for Education District Collectors Municipal Commissioners Directors of Literacy Programmes Continuing Education Centres Preraks Collaborators NGOs Rotarians, Lions Club Ramakrishna Mission, Chinmaya Mission, Sathya Sai Baba Trusts, … Political Parties Education institutions Corporate Bodies Chambers of Commerce Industry associations The road ahead

32. The road ahead • We are moving beyond the proving stage • It is a national problem and has to be viewed as a national project • There is a need for an umbrella organization that has the goodwill to provide the networking and the glue to hold it together • There is a need for seeding the financing needed to engage in the battle against this scourge

33. Standalone computers: 486s* Wireless local loops: the last mile problem* Reaching the needy Cable television and set top boxes* Digital broadcast * two way interaction facilitated

34. Training material in every language • Obtaining computers • Obtaining of UPS • Obtaining ancillaries • Obtaining supplementary material • Communications infrastructure • Training the teachers and trainers • NGOs • Social service bodies • College students • National Literacy Mission • Sustained project management Logistics of delivery

35. Not by Tools Alone • Need commensurate investment to battle the problem • Need willing and able hands • Need processes and infrastructure • Need quality control and assurance • Need management to achieve goals • Need value to drive the vision and mission

36. No Silver Bullet • One size or kind does not fit all • Need an arsenal to cope with problems of variety and scale • Information and Communication Technologies provide a ray of hope.

37. What are other gains of technology • Health care • Agriculture • Demograph • Schooling

38. “Reading is the new Civil Right” “No modern society can function without literate population & No one can function well in a modern society without being literate.”THANK YOU