Kids in UP government schools to teach illiterate parents

MEERUT: Even as Uttar Pradesh battles with low literacy rate, especially among women, the state education department is now planning to encourage school-going kids to teach illiterate parents at home. The move, officials said, is to empower parents to support their children’s education. According to the 2011 census, literacy rate among women in the state was recorded at 57.18% with one or both parents of children in government schools found to be uneducated.Not only this, the department has also asked teachers to take special classes for members of ‘Maa Samooh’ – a group of mothers who taste mid-day meals from time to time to check the quality of food.
“The percentage of women’s literacy rate is even lower is some backward districts of the state. When parents are not educated, they are unable to inspire their children to go to schools and help the latter in their studies,” said Sarvendra Vikram Bahadur Singh, UP education director.
Officials have asked all schools to make sure that each student from classes VI to VIII teaches at least one uneducated elder from her or his family after school hours. The initiative is being done with an aim to improve results of students, who are likely to learn in the process of educating their parents. The elders, in turn, can also help tutor kids at home.
“The students of junior high schools should also be asked to impart basic education to at least one illiterate person in their families within a period of three months,” read Singh’s order.
Yatika Pundir, assistant teacher, primary school (Kamalpur), said, “The initiative will help parents motivate their children to study. Kids will also be proud to see their parents sign papers instead of using thumb impressions.”
Sources in the education department said a report about the number of students who have successfully taught their parents or any uneducated person will be sent to the state authorities once every three months.