National Adult Education Programme (NAEP):
The National Adult Education Programme (NAEP) was launched on 2nd October, 1978. The programme aims at eradicating illiteracy among adults of the age group 15-35.
Following are the objectives of NAEP
(1) Promotion of Literacy:
Imparting of literacy skills to persons belonging to the economically and socially deprived sections of the society.
(2) Creation of Awareness:
Creating an awareness in helping them overcome their helplessness and to achieve self-reliance.
(3) Raising functional capabilities:
Raising their functional capabilities in their occupation and skills of management to their own advantage as a group.
The period during which the learners would participate in the adult education centers, would be between 300 to 350 hours, or 9-10 months.
Training of various adult education functionaries has been given a place of special importance in NAEP.
The various categories of persons, who could be assigned instructional responsibility would include the following:
(i) School teacher.
(iii) Unemployed village youth.
(iv) Ex-servicemen & other retired personnel.
(v) Field-level Govt. and other functionaries and
(vi) Voluntary social workers.
(7) Post-Literacy and follow-up Activities:
Before conclusion of the programme, preparations have to be made for organisation of a continuing education. These centres would provide library and reading room facilities, training courses for functional development as well as group action and group organisation activities.
(8) Organisation and Administration:
The National Board of Adult Education has been set up under chairmanship of the Union Education Minister to periodically appraise the progress and implementation of NAEP and to advise the government on various matters.
In each state there will be a State Board of Adult Education to function as the agency of Coordination and advice. There will be a State Adult Education officer with necessary supporting administrative and professional staff under the overall guidance of the State Board.
It is a matter of great appreciation that now the Government of India has come forward to tackle the task of the project ‘Education for Air through importing education to millions of adults. In this regard the National Policy on Education, 1986 took a pledge to the eradication of illiteracy, particularly in the 15-35 age group.
Now all the efforts are taken for promoting meaningful and effective Adult Education. The world over the educational planning has moved away from a sartorial view of primary schooling, non-formal education and adult education to a holistic view. The UNESCO has been advocating the ‘dual-track approach’ designed to promote simultaneously literacy and basic learning for adults and Universalisation of Elementary Education for children.