International Conference “Spectrum of Literacy” Held Ahead of International Literacy Day 2024

New Delhi: Sanjay Kumar, Secretary of the Department of School Education and Literacy (DoSEL), chaired the international conference titled “Spectrum of Literacy” today at the Central Institute of Educational Technology (CIET), NCERT, New Delhi. Organized by the Ministry of Education as a prelude to International Literacy Day 2024, the virtual conference brought together experts, educators, policymakers, and literacy advocates to explore the evolving dimensions of literacy in today’s world.

Archana Sharma Awasthi, Joint Secretary of DoSEL, Prof. Dinesh Prasad Saklani, Director of NCERT, and Joyce Poan, Chief of the Education Sector at UNESCO’s South Asia Office, along with other dignitaries, participated in the event. The conference aimed to highlight the growing importance of literacy beyond traditional reading and writing skills, emphasizing life skills like digital, financial, and legal literacy.

In his keynote address, Sanjay Kumar noted that modern literacy now encompasses Foundational Literacy and Numeracy, along with critical life skills that help individuals navigate through daily life. He highlighted the ULLAS framework (Nav Bharat Saaksharta Karyakram), a key initiative aimed at bridging the literacy gap between urban and rural populations and between men and women. “Literacy must become a powerful force for change,” he said, emphasizing the need for strategic approaches to achieving these goals.

The conference also focused on this year’s International Literacy Day theme: Promoting Literacy Through Multilingualism. Kumar reiterated the importance of multilingualism, a core aspect of India’s National Education Policy (NEP) 2020, which supports teaching children in their mother tongue for better learning outcomes. He further stressed the need for educating women to improve their representation in the workforce.

Archana Sharma Awasthi, in her inaugural address, highlighted the role of ULLAS in fostering adult literacy across the nation, presenting a roadmap for future literacy initiatives.

The conference featured two key sessions. The first, titled “Exploring the ‘Spectrum of Literacy’ in India,” chaired by Dr. Amarendra P. Behera, Joint Director of CIET, NCERT, focused on domestic literacy perspectives. Key speakers included Kesang Sherpa from NCTE, Dr. M.K.S. Sundaram, Principal Secretary of the Basic Education Department, UP, and Prof. Jai Prakash Dubey of the Delhi School of Journalism.

The second session, chaired by Prof. T.G. Sitharam, Chairman of AICTE, provided global perspectives on literacy. Experts like Nicholas Jonas from Germany, Prof. Iddo Gal from Israel, and Dr. Anke Grotluschen from Germany discussed critical literacy challenges, including adult literacy and the influence of artificial intelligence on education. Dr. John Benseman contributed insights on “Literacy in Social Spaces.”