New Delhi: Vice-President M Venkaiah Naidu said a country cannot claim itself as a developed nation if even 15 per cent of the total population is not educated.
“We’re proving ourselves the best in IT and moving towards digitalization but basic adult education needs greater attention. A country cannot claim itself to be developed if even 15% of its population is not educated. It is a challenge for the country and leadership,” Naidu was quoted as saying by news agency ANI.
“We have made significant strides in the field of education over the past 7 decades. However, there still exists a huge imbalance in basic literacy skills in our society. This is a cause of concern,” Naidu added.
The vice-president called for eliminating illiteracy in mission mode. “Students should be given some extra marks for such activities,” he said.
Naidu said this while presenting the Indian Adult Education Association (IAEA)-organised Nehru and Tagore Literacy Awards. The awards were given to individuals and institutions for their noteworthy contributions in the field of education and national development.
“Praising the New Education Policy-2020 for its due emphasis on various aspects of adult education, Shri Naidu said that this approach opens new vistas of growth and development through availing lifelong opportunities of socio-economic and cultural development,” the agency quoted Naidu as saying in a press release.
“It recommends multiple avenues including crowdfunding and utilizing online and app-based technology, satellite-based television channels, online study resources and libraries for the development and promotion of adult education centres,” Naidu said.
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