J&K to achieve Foundational Literacy & Numeracy at the end of
Grade-III by 2026-27: Kanethia
Jammu 11th November: Project Director Samagra Shiksha School Education Department,while
addressing a workshop at Jammu, said that J&K UT will achieve Universal Foundational Literacy &
Numeracy at the end of Grade-III by 2026-27 through a National Mission, i.e. the National Initiative
for proficiency in reading with understanding and numeracy (NIPUN Bharat). He was speaking in a
dissemination workshop of Foundational Learning Study 2020 organised by the Directorate of
Samagra Shiksha J&K in collaboration with the National Development Foundation J&K Jammu and
UNICEF at Tawi Conference Hall, Udheywala Jammu. The Officers from SCERT, CEO Offices and DIETs
of all the districts of Jammu Division participated in the workshop. SH. Ajeet Sharma, coordinator
Quality Samagra Shiksha and Syed Fayaz, Assistant Coordinator of Samagra Shiksha, acted as
Resource Persons and disseminated the outcome of the foundational learning study 2022.
In his address, Rajiv Khajuria, President/CEO National Development Foundation,highlighted the
priority given to foundational numeracy and literacy in National Education Policy 2020. He
emphasized that
future schooling
and lifelong
learning for
children is
impossible
without attaining
foundational
literacy &
numeracy.
Fayaz Ahmed
Fayaz I/c Joint
Director SCERT, in
his address, called
upon the field
officers to take the
learnings of the
FLS Study at the
ground level and assured that SCERT would wholeheartedly support all interventions and content
development about foundational numeracy and literacy. He informed that SCERT has already
developed TLM and content, some of which is already in use, and the remaining will be disseminated
shortly to facilitate the foundational literacy and numeracy for all children in J&K UT.
Project Director Er. Deep Raj Kanethia elaborating further said that research indicates that 80 to 90
% of the brain develops in children by the time they attain the age of 6 to 7 years. He appealed that
all education officers and functionaries should focus on building a strong foundation for better
growth in the early years so that children attain foundational literacy and numeracy, which has been
accorded the highest preference in National Education Policy 2020. He shared that hon’ble LG J&K,
Chief Secretary, and Principal Secretary of Education have given clear-cut instructions that NIPUN
Bharat Mission shall be a great success by ensuring that all children in Jammu & Kashmir attain
proficiencyin learning with understanding and numeracy. This is also a flagship programme of the
Government of India and will help achieve SDG 4.1.1.The project Director complimented the rule of
civil society, particularly the National Development Foundation and Unicef, for joining the Education
Department to ensure foundational numeracy and literacy a reality for the children in Jammu &
Kashmir. He detailed that National Education Policy 2020 also promotes voluntarism and the rule of
Civil Society Organisations to ensure inclusive and quality education for all children
