The Kerala State Literacy Mission Authority (KSLMA) says that the state is much ahead other states in terms of strides made in literacy and follow-up programmes.
Former MLA Alphons Kannamthanam, who played a key role in making Kottayam the country’s first fully literate municipality, as the Kottayam district collector says the the interest in literacy campaign waned after the 90s.
Alphons says that people who were neo-literates in 1991 might have turned illiterates because of lack of follow-up programmes.
Prof Thomas Abraham, former head of Adult and Continuing education department, M G University, and Prof Chandramohan, president of the District Library Council, Kottayam, who were active participants in the literacy movement of the 90s, endorse the stand. But the officials of the KSLMA dispute the allegation.
But the officials of the KSLMA dispute the allegation. According to V V Mathew, Literacy Mission Kottayam district coordinator, Kerala is much ahead of other states in terms of achievements in literacy and follow-up education.
“We have achieved total literacy in 1991 and stepped into the next phase of post-literacy programmes.
“After these two phases, we have started equivalency programmes under continuing education initiative, which has become a huge success.
We are trying to pass another milestone by achieving 100 per cent literacy under equivalency programmes,” he said.
(to be concluded)