Tamil Nadu has become the first state in the country to achieve the target fixed for the Sakshar Bharat programme by producing 17.26 lakh neo-literates. With a literacy rate of 80.3 per cent, Tamil Nadu is in the forefront in executing the programme. Sakshar Bharat is focussed on women’s literacy which has got a major boost after the programme was launched in 2009. Tamil Nadu encouraged participation of women by introducing vocational classes. Surveys by the National Council of Educational Research and Training have shown that after a programme of activity-based learning was begun in 2007-08 in government and government-aided schools, Tamil Nadu has got catapulted to the top of the elementary education charts. But there is no room for complacency as the quality of education leaves a lot to be desired.
With two central universities, 19 state universities and close to 30 deemed universities, Tamil Nadu’s rich tradition in academia has been extended to structured learning by prioritising access to higher education. Safety, affordable fee structure, scholarships, opportunities, facilities and infrastructure are attracting plenty of students from other parts of India and abroad. The state government has come up with many schemes in Vision 2023 under the 12th plan, which envisages a 25 per cent gross enrolment ratio by 2023. The aim is to turn institutions of higher education into Centres of Innovation, Excellence and Research and Development, make higher education accessible, equitable, affordable, flexible and of good quality, create strong scientific temper, strengthen R&D, promote sports and youth welfare and transform TN into a global hub for university education.
While much has been achieved in increasing literacy levels in the state, the new challenge for Tamil Nadu as with other states is to improve quality of education. Today, not a single Indian university ranks in the top 100 institutions of the world. This has to change.
