Kerala - first state to achieve 100% literacy

Kerala has become the first Indian state to achieve 100% primary education. The Vice-President, Mohammad Hamid Ansari has officially declared the 100% primary education status achieved by Kerala.

• This has been achieved through the primary education equivalency drive of the state literacy mission –Athulyam.

About Athulyam:

• The programme was aimed at providing primary education people aged between 15 and 50 years. It was implemented in two stages.
• The beneficiaries were identified through family registries prepared by anganwadis under the social justice department.
• In the second phase of this Athulyam programme, the students who have not received primary education or who failed to get primary education due to several reasons were recognised and these students were provided classes to achieve the education.

The significance of education in Kerala is indicated by the state’s ranking as the most literate in the country. Schools and colleges are mostly administered by the government, private trusts, or individuals. Each school is associated with either the Indian Certificate of Secondary Education (ICSE), the Central Board for Secondary Education (CBSE), Kerala State Education Board or the (NIOS).