Ministry of Education has launched a National Initiative for Proficiency in Reading with Understanding and Numeracy (NIPUN Bharat).
To ensure that every child in the country necessarily attains foundational literacy and numeracy (FLN) by the end of Grade 3, by 2026-27.
It has been launched under the aegis of the centrally sponsored scheme of Samagra Shiksha.
Department of School Education and Literacy, Ministry of Education (MoE) will be the implementing agency at the national level and will be headed by a Mission Director.
It will focus on providing access and retaining children in foundational years of schooling; teacher capacity building; development of high quality and diversified Student and Teacher Resources/Learning Materials; and tracking the progress of each child in achieving learning outcomes.
It will focus on children of age group of 3 to 9 years including Pre-school to grade 3.
The children who are in Class 4 and 5 and have not attained the foundational skills will be provided individual teacher guidance and support, peer support.
The unique feature is that the goals of the Mission are set in the form of Lakshya Soochi or Targets for Foundational Literacy and Numeracy.
For example, a child should be able to read 45to 60 words per minute and atleast 60 words per minute correctly by the end of Grade II and III respectively from an age appropriate unknown text with comprehension and clarity.
A special package for foundational literacy and Numeracy under NISHTHA for training pre-primary guide to primary guide teacher.
The goals and objectives of the mission are required to be achieved by all Govt., Govt. Aided and Private Schools so that universal acquisition of FLN skills can be achieved by 2026-27.
National Education Policy 2020 has laid down that attaining foundational literacy and numeracy for all children must become an immediate national mission.