On October 2, 1978, the National Adult Education Programme was established in India in an effort to combat the country’s rising illiteracy rates. The National Adult Education Programme offers illiterates between the ages of 15 and 35 an opportunity to become educated. Education is crucial to the nation’s economic and social development in a place like India. Therefore, NAEP has the potential to bring about a favorable transformation in Indian society.
The NAEP primarily focuses on three aspects:
- Literacy and numeracy
- Functional growth of individuals
- Social awareness – This encompasses knowledge of laws and regulations, government policies, and the necessity for the underprivileged and illiterate to organize together for collective development action.
The primary focus of the program is to educate women and individuals belonging to the tribal communities. These minorities are lagging behind in terms of acquiring education and they can play a key role in the development of the country.
The Union Education Minister serves as the chair of the National Board of Adult Education, which was established to carry out regular assessments of NAEP implementation. At the state level, there is a State Board of Adult Education that covers duties like the coordination of the programme and it also acts as an advisory for its smooth functioning. Under the general supervision of the State Board, there will be a State Adult Education officer with the essential administrative and professional support staff.
In short, NAEP’s goal is to educate members of the underprivileged strata of society and inspire them to pursue better goals in life. As well as that, it strives to make these individuals self-sufficient and independent.
