Testing times

It’s blackboard calling once more for dropouts of East and West Singhbhum.

The district education department (HRD) is offering neo-literates a chance to complete their studies through the Centre’s Saakshar Bharat programme.

The flagship adult education scheme, launched on September 8, 2009, by the Centre on International Literacy Day, is being brought to the twin districts for the first time.

Classes will start within the next couple of months.

Before this, an exam, part of a nationwide test, will be conducted at two centres in every panchayat of the districts on Saturday to assess the academic levels of the interested candidates — aged 15 years or above — who had completed primary education (upto Class V) sometime ago, had to drop out midway but now want to continue with their studies.

The qualifying candidates from the panchayat levels will have their classes at Lok Shiksha Kendra at villages and will be given certificates after completion of each level.

Those dropouts intending to complete their matriculation exams will also be able to do so through National Institute of Open Schooling (NIOS).

“About 1,000 examinees have already registered across the district. Although we have informed all panchayats and villages, the registration will be open even during the test so that interested examinees who don’t have any prior information can simply walk in,” said Ashok Kumar Sharma, district education officer (DEO), East Singhbhum.

The district education department will implement the programme, while state resource centres will give technical and academic support.

Students who acquire A and B grades will be considered fit for the improved pace and content learning classes under the scheme.

The objective of Saakshar Bharat is to provide continuous education to the neo-literate adults in the age group of 15 and above, with special emphasis on women.

Besides pushing their learning beyond basic literacy, the programme aims to train the beneficiaries in skill development to improve their living conditions.

Teaching methods will frequently go beyond the classroom to comprise peer learning, multiple-level teaching, group discussions, exposure visits, activity-based learning and audio-visual events.