Asia’s Largest Global Software & Services Company Functional Literacy Programme Using Information Technology to Accelerate Literacy process in India 27

Asia’s Largest Global Software & Services Company

Functional Literacy Programme Using Information Technology

to Accelerate Literacy process in India

27 May 2002

A Presentation to

Her Excellency Mrs. Zanella Mbeki

the First Lady of South Africa

Chairperson of the WDB Trust


TCS’ Computer Based Functional Literacy Programme

•Departure from NLM approach•Focuses on reading - IT Based teaching• Makes an illiterate adult capable of reading

within 10- 12 weeks• Computers as surrogate teachers - system

is independent of trained teachers• Uses computer based training programs• Can be run on low end PCs • Uses eclectic Method

•k


Writing

Reading

Arithematic

NLM Model International Standards of

30 words/minute

9 months - 1 year

Writing

Reading

Arithematic

Reinforcement ofReading

TCS Model Max 6 months12-13 words/minute

30 Learning hours in the first block Increased motivation

TCS Model- Emphasis on Reading

1


The CBFL Approach

• Learning is induced by flashing symbols and icons in the local language

•associates sound with images •cognition through image retention •multi media lessons built on local idiom - puppet show

• Basic learning unit is not an alphabet but a syllable & word• Material from National Literacy Mission• Aims at making the person read a news paper


Advantages

•Novelty of the medium and longer attention spans

in the class

•Standardization of the instructional material

•Allows the learners to progress at their own speed

•Caters to different levels of learning in the same

class

•Facilitates switching between the lessons to

address the learners requirement

•Contextual learning


Characteristics of Adult learners

• Speak the dialect of the language• Emphasis on learning & reinforcement of patterns

associated with spoken language• Adult learning is

– goal oriented – self directed– pragmatic

• Need to be treated with respect• Need to be allowed to learn at their own speed


Social Aspects -Our Experience

• Succeeds where there is a common identity of a group already established

• Fast learners help and motivate others• Organize into Self learning groups • Reinforcement by school going children and other

literate family members• Social barriers and divide to be borne in mind in

identifying the location and cohesive groups• No singling out of slow learners & enforcement of

formal discipline• Informal learning environment


National Literacy Mission

• Research material available• Available in all major Indian languages• Government has infrastructure to reach interiors of India• Addresses 3Rs and uses themes to enhance social awareness

• Teachers in short supply• Teaching programme takes long to administer – 200 hours of instruction

• High drop-out rate• 3 Rs – slows down pace of learning


Identifying the

alphabets

learnt


Formation of words shown on

the screen


Identifying theletters

from the news paper


Identifying

the

letters

learnt

from the

posters


I am the teacher

here


Literacy in India Data Source: 1991 & 2001 Census

• Reading and writing

in an Indian Language

• Read at the rate of

30 words a minute

• 13.2% improvement

over a decade,gets

offset with population

increase

• Over 300 Million

illiterates

• Between 150 and

200 Million adult

illiterates

0.00%

10.00%

20.00%

30.00%

40.00%

50.00%

60.00%

70.00%

80.00%

Persons Males Females

1991

2001

Literacy Rates in India


But, what if…

An adult illiterate could learn to read in 10 - 12 weeks…

We could use IT expertise instead of scarce skilled teachers…

We could enhance and accelerate the National Literacy Mission programme through IT


Rate of progress slow – estimated 15-20

years before problem is tackled!

Andhra Pradesh :15-20 million illiterate adults

- a tenth of the Indian illiterates


Our Efforts in Medak & Guntur Districts

• Implemented in about 300 centres

• Approx 5,500 adults have been equipped to read

• Experimented with cable TV for delivery

• 1400 people were trained in TV centers

• The instructional material is improved further

through our learning's from TV

• Teamed up with local NGO’s, NLM, Government,

State Resource center, District Mandal and

Panchayat bodies


Success in Andhra Pradesh

Over 90% success in operating centres

Over 5,500 adults able to read after the programme

Several learnt to write on their own initiative

“Now I can read the Bible when I go to church…” –

elderly lady student


Success Repeated

Packages are available in•Tamil•Hindi

Under finalisation•Bengali•Marathi

Initiated •Kannada


Some personal motivation for literacy

… I did not know how to help my children in their studies … I had to seek help in getting directions to get about … now I check their reports, and refuse to sign on them if they are not doing well ...

… we have to sign when we accept money … sometimes we are asked to sign on a blank paper … now I read before committing anything … I can even read movie titles on TV ...


Some personal motivation for literacy

Student 1:

I do not know how to read (said in Hindi) … it will be good for me to read (said in Telugu) …

Student 2:

I am a Tamilian. I want to learn to read and write in Telugu


Prerak (instructor) on the use of computers

“I am a prerak. I have been working since ‘95.”

“Computers have helped … needed individual training earlier, can teach a roomful now … classes are shorter … more people are coming … they are interested”


Experienced student can teach!

“I have learned to operate the computer … when the prerak is not here, I can run the class … it does not matter how many there are in the class … we can help ourselves …”


Plans for Andhra Pradesh

• Tie-up with the State Government for roll out

along with their related IT initiatives• 10,000 centers to be added in several districts• TCS to organize procurement of the refurbished PCs and deploy them in the centers & train the facilitators• Implementation and monitoring mechanisms are being worked through a working committee under the aegis of Secretary IT


Issues- Our Experience

• Power problems• Equipment problems• Need for monitoring progress• Mobilization and motivation of learners• Scaling up issues


Thank You

Documents

Asia’s Largest Global Software & Services Company Functional Literacy Programme Using Information Technology to Accelerate Literacy process in India 27