Why is Foundational Literacy and Numeracy (FLN) important?
Today, nearly 97% of children in the age group of 6 to 14 years are going to school in India. Yet, they are not learning adequately.
Every year, an estimated 6 million children complete 8 years of compulsory schooling in the country with alarmingly low learning levels
This learning crisis starts early, with more than half of these children unable to read simple text or do math by as early as grade 3
CSF has been working with key partner states to co-design and deliver a program that can boost foundational learning at scale across India.
The #FoundationHaiSahi campaign aims at capturing the progress made by states so far, highlighting the work being done at the ground level, initiatives being introduced, and outcomes being achieved on foundational learning.
A Glimpse of Our Work on the Ground
FLN in Action
Foundational Literacy and Numeracy (FLN) is defined as the ability to read with meaning and perform basic math calculations by the end of grade 3. It is the critical building block in a child’s learning journey and hence, needs to be prioritized.
In this film, learn about the work being done on the ground in different states of India towards prioritizing and strengthening foundational learning for all children. Progress on the three aspects that are critical for creation of robust learning outcomes for children, namely Teaching Learning Material (TLM), Teacher Professional Development (TPD), and Assessments, has been captured here.
FLN Progress In The States
As per the new National Education Policy (NEP) 2020, “the highest priority of the education system will be to achieve universal foundational literacy and numeracy in primary schools by 2025. The rest of this Policy will become relevant for students only if this most basic learning requirement (i.e., reading, writing, and arithmetic at the foundational level) is first achieved”.
To this end, a National Mission on Foundational Literacy and Numeracy – the ‘NIPUN Bharat Mission’ or ‘National Initiative for Proficiency in Reading with Understanding and Numeracy’ was launched by the Ministry of Education in 2021.
Watch this film to learn about the progress of the Mission through the voice of state leaders, as they share insights on their respective state FLN journeys so far. Also hear them talk about what lies ahead in the years to come to improve foundational learning outcomes for all children in India.
Buniyaad | A Film on the Foundational Learning Crisis in India
The education system in India is one of the largest in the world. Yet, children are not learning despite attending school. This learning crisis starts early, with challenges surrounding their foundational literacy and numeracy (FLN).
Watch this documentary to learn more about the FLN crisis and how related challenges were exacerbated due to the Covid-19 pandemic. The film also captures the different policy and structural changes that have been introduced by the State to bridge this learning gap, including the NIPUN Bharat Mission.
This film has been made by young filmmakers from Celluloid Film Society, Miranda House under Ciné Impact Film Fellowship run by The Hyphen and supported by Central Square Foundation.
To know more about Foundational Literacy and Numeracy
Download Our FLN Factsheet