Srinagar, Feb 22: The NIPUN Bharat Mission in Government schools in Jammu and Kashmir is becoming increasingly popular, as teachers engage students in activity-based learning to help them attain foundational literacy and numeracy by 2026-27.
The Nodal officer for NIPUN Bharat, Sheikh Gulzar, informed Rising Kashmir that the National Initiative for Proficiency in Reading with Understanding and Numeracy (NIPUN Bharat) was initiated by the Ministry of Education in July 2021 to ensure that every child in the country achieves foundational literacy and numeracy by the end of Grade 3 by 2026-27.
“Within the NIPUN Bharat Mission, children aged 3 to 8 are engaged in activities without the use of textbooks. They are guided to comprehend numbers, measurement, and shapes,” he said
Gulzar said that children are taught in their native languages and provided with high-quality teaching materials. Schools conduct various assessments such as polls, quizzes, and games to engage children effectively.
“Currently, we have over 42,000 teachers in Jammu and Kashmir, with 8,000 already trained. However other remaining teachers will get trained within this academic year ,” he added.
He said that as part of the NIPUN Bharat Mission, students are taken on field trips in addition to their regular school activities. This hands-on experience allows them to gain practical knowledge, moving beyond textbook learning and ensuring a solid understanding of fundamental concepts at the foundational level.
The Nodal officer emphasized that developing foundational skills in children will reduce dropouts and enhance the transition rate to higher classes. This will lead to better education quality through activity-based learning and innovative teaching methods.
He stressed on the holistic development of children by focusing on various domains like physical and motor skills, socio-emotional development, literacy and numeracy, cognitive skills, and life skills.
“Children will achieve a more accelerated learning path, which can positively impact their future outcomes and employment opportunities. This ensures access to equitable, inclusive, and quality education,” He said.
Adding that the NIPUN Bharat supports and encourages students, along with their schools, teachers, parents, and communities, in every way possible, to help realise the true potential of children and take the country to greater heights.
