Thiruvananthapuram: Not only learners, their children too will benefit from the Aksharasree literacy and equivalency programme being implemented in the city Corporation limits, Minister for Tourism Kadakampally Surendran has said.
He was speaking after inaugurating the ‘Pravesanotsavam’ for Aksharasree learners at Senate Hall on Sunday afternoon.
The Minister praised the learners, a chunk of whom are women, for their determination to become literate or follow-up from where they left off despite their work and other commitments.
Citing the example of the movie ‘Udaharanam Sujatha,’ he said many of them would have seen their dreams of education being realised through their children. The Left Democratic Government was committed to giving wings to government schoolchildren’s dreams of quality education similar to that of students in other schools. With parents’ coming forward to become literate, the government’s efforts would get a boost and eventually it would be their children who would gain from it. “It will give rise to a generation that is well educated and accomplished,” he said.
Kerala had notched up many gains on the education front and set a model for the country. However, the the Aksharasree literacy survey in 100 wards of the Corporation had thrown up shocking results. It showed that even among this generation, there were thousands in the city who could not read or write. There were many more who had left their studies at various stages. This despite the State’s efforts to facilitate education by providing free education, fee uniform, and mid-day meal. Against this backdrop, the literacy mission’s efforts to increase literacy were laudable, Mr. Surendran said.
The Minister inaugurated the distribution of textbooks for the literacy learners by handing over the first set to Asma Bibi of Puthenpally ward.
Mayor V.K. Prasanth who presided over the function said the learners enthusiasm to come forward to support the State’s capital’s aim of becoming 100% literate was praiseworthy. Each Malayali knew the importance of education, and it the responsibility of all to help achieve the target.
Literacy mission Director P.S. Sreekala said lifelong learning was a right and the mission was working to realise it through informal education. When people became educated, they began to understand its importance, and in turn tried to ensure that the next generation too had access to the best education. Also, with children and youth coming forward to teach the elderly, the bonds between them would get reinforced, thereby preventing neglect and maltreatment of the elderly. It would also bring about a positive change in the lifestyle and habits of target groups. She also appealed for public participation in making Aksharasree successful.
Corporation Development standing committee chairperson Vanchiyoor P. Babu spoke.
Aksharasree classes will begin on March 15 for literacy, class 4, 7, 10 and higher secondary learners. There are 2,500 literacy learners, 4,000 class 4 equivalency learners, 1,500 class 7, 1,500 class 10, and 1,000 higher secondary equivalency learners.