Kerala becomes 1st state in country to achieve 100% primary education 

"Kerala has become the first state in the country to achieve total primary education. This has been achieved through the primary education equivalency drive of the state literacy mission — Athulyam. The equivalency programmes have proved a huge success and the ultimate objective is to achieve total Plus-Two education in the state," education minister P K Abdu Rabb said here on Monday.

The declaration will be made at a function at Kerala University Senate Hall.

 

 The second phase of Athulyam was carried out across the state as part of the Mission 676 of the government, launched to mark its third anniversary. The programme offers a chance for those who failed to get primary education due to various reasons to achieve the education qualification equivalent to fourth standard.

 

Those aged 15 to 50 were beneficiaries of the programme and were identified through family registries prepared by anganwadis under the social justice department and also through ward-level surveys carried out by instructors in continuing education programmes.

Around 2.6 lakh candidates appeared for the 4th standard equivalency examination in June 2015 and 2.2 lakh candidates qualified. The equivalency examination was held in 6,613 centres across the state and those who scored 30/75 in English and 20/50 in other subjects were declared winners.

 

Source | Times of India | 12 January 2016

Primary education extended till Std VIII     The state government has restructured the school system extending primary education till standard VIII.      A notification issued on Thursday states that the new education cycle will be applicable from the 2014-15 academic year. The changes are being made under the Right to Free and Compulsory Education (RTE) Act. At present, primary education is imparted up to standard VII.      N U Raurale, joint secretary, state education department, said, “This pattern is followed by almost all boards in the country, except for a few states in south India. However, with the RTE Act in force, every state will have to change.”      Since the Act covers children in the age group of 6-14 years, it was necessary that class VIII be included in primary education. The challenge for the state government would be to provide extra classrooms at those schools which run only primary section. Raurale said, “We are already in the process of identifying such schools and making arrangements to provide extra class rooms. We still have time in hand and by beginning of the next academic year, we will have the required infrastructure in place.”      Matin Mujawar, an education expert, said, “The other challenge is going to be for primary teachers who would now have to equip themselves for teaching students of class VIII.” The state education department has, however, said that classes IX and X would remain in the category of secondary education. TNN

Source::: The Times of India, 22-11-2013, p.07,  http://epaper.timesofindia.com/Default/Scripting/ArticleWin.asp?From=Archive&Source=Page&Skin=TOINEW&BaseHref=TOIM/2013/11/22&PageLabel=7&EntityId=Ar00700&ViewMode=HTML