Adult Education and Female Literacy in Manipur

Title: Adult Education and Female Literacy in Manipur
Author: Sharmila Thingbaijam
ISBN: 978-81-933788-7-8
Year of Publication: 2017
Language: English

About the Book:

In Manipur, though the significant and positive role of adult education in development has been highlighted by various educationists, researchers, Non-Government Organizations and social leaders, a large number of adults are still illiterate and they seem to be living in a poor socio-economic condition. Adult Education programmes have been taken up in Manipur from 1960s. The programmes of Adult Education are taken up in different Blocks of Manipur as the social Education programme which gives stress on literacy, numeracy, agriculture, extension and animal husbandry, training in citizenship and youth welfare programme. From a survey of the existing Adult Education Centres in different districts of Manipur, it transpires that Adult Education programme in Manipur is being implemented very unsatisfactorily. Mere display of the enrolment figures of the Adult learners and financial expenditure on the Adult education Projects, does not employ production of literate adults and progress of the Adult Education programme in Manipur. Thereafter, there was appreciable progress under various programmes of Total Literacy Campaign (TLC), Post Literacy Programmes (PLP) and Continuing Education Programme (CEP) during Ninth & Tenth Five Year Plans period. Despite significant achievement of the Mission, illiteracy continues to be an area of National concerns as per 2001 census which had revealed that there were still thousands of illiterate adults (in age group of 15+) in the state. Whereas female literacy rate remains at an unacceptable low of 54% even though male literacy rate is over 75%. As such, National Literacy Mission had been modified and renamed Literacy Mission as National Female Literacy Mission and Literacy Programme as SAAKSHAR BHARAT MISSION (Literate India). The Government of India has sanctioned for the implementation of SBM in four districts (Viz. Chandel, Senapati, Tamenglong and Thoubal) of Manipur in the first phase where female literacy rate is below 50%. In the absence of proper encouragement and incentives from the government, the busy adults and the volunteer teachers, who are to bear responsibilities of earning bread for the family, are reluctant to go in for the literacy class and there is no proper library equipped with books of neo-literates, pamphlets, booklets, charts, etc. Now, it is necessary to evaluate the programme to ascertain whether the adult learners could react and derive from the programme and also to know physical progress of the adult education programmes so far conducted in the state. Since, it is necessary to impart proper functional skill and social awareness to the people, particularly in the productive age group of 15-35 years and above. Evaluation and monitoring of the activities of central and state governments and also of the voluntary agencies are highly necessary for future plans and follow up programmes for the successful implementation of the literacy programmes in the state.

One of the main objectives of the present book is to highlight the effectiveness of adult education programme in the state. To fulfill the main objective, the study aims:(a) To trace the development of adult education programme in the state (b)To study the plans and program of the central and state government of Manipur in respect of the goals and objectives, organizational structure and the implemental strategy of the adult education programme..(c)To study the functioning of the adult education programme in Manipur in terms of its organization, curricular activities, monitoring and evaluation, achievement of objectives and follow-up activities (d)To find out the problems and prospect of the adult education implemented in Manipur, (e)to trace the expectations of the learners and the functionaries  for the improvement of the prgramme in respect of its organization, curricular activities, monitoring and evaluation system (h)To find out suitable measures for the improvement of the adult education programmes in the state.

The present book consists of seven chapters. Chapter-I includes introduction which covered the meaning, characteristics, components, need, importance, aim and objectives of adult education. Chapter–II:  Development of Adult Education in Manipur. Chapter–III: Organization and Administration of Adult Education in Manipur. Chapter – IV: Training Methods and Materials of Adult Education. Chapter–V:  Female Literacy in Manipur. Chapter-VI: Funding Pattern of Adult Education Programme in Manipur. Chapter-VII: Problems of Adult Education in Manipur.

“Every Adult learners of Manipur should be literate and should possess the knowledge and skills necessary to compete the global economy and exercise the rights and responsibilities of citizenship”.

                                                             -Dr. Sharmila Thingbaijam