At the end of the Physics exam paper of the Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) Class 12 on Wednesday, the students reacted differently. For some it was difficult and for some others it was OK but lengthy. Students said no out-of-syllabus questions appeared and neither were there any mistakes in the question paper. "It was tough. The questions were more application-based and there were few direct questions. Last year's was easier" said a student.

The tough section was solving problems based on concepts, for which they had to try various methods before arriving at an answer.

What is your opinion? Express your opinion as comments below
Intense Debate

The Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) exam for Class X and Class XII started. Around 6.99 lakh candidates took their Class XII examination for physics on 3 March 2010.
There will be 13,311 students appearing for the Class X and 8,596 candidates appearing for the Class XII examinations in 56 and 45 centres abroad respectively. The number of centres for Class X and Class XII in Gulf countries were 37 and 33 respectively.

More than 6.99 lakh candidates will also take their class XII examination and about 9.25 lakh candidates will be appearing in CBSE class X examination.

NASA Quest
http://quest.nasa.gov/
NASA Quest Challenges are FREE Web-based, interactive explorations designed to engage students in authentic scientific and engineering processes. The solutions relate to issues encountered daily by NASA personnel.
Read more here http://quest.nasa.gov/challenges/

Kerala State Literacy Mission

History

Adult and Non-formal Education activities in Kerala started in an organised manner with the setting up of Kerala Grandha Sala Sangham (KGS) in 1945 with 47 rural libraries. Sri. P.N.Panicker, the driving spirit behind the concept, succeeded in bringing 6000 libraries into this net work. These libraries functioned as good community centres where useful discussions, seminars and symposia were held for the common public.

In 1979 Govt. of India sanctioned 40 literacy Centres (20 in each district) in two districts as per a Project submitted by KGS. Grandhasala Sangham won the prestigious ‘Krupsakaya Award’ from UNESCO in 1975 as an endorsement of its good work.

Shri.P.N.Panicker, who later founded KANFED acted as a catalyst in bringing a number of voluntary agencies to the field of non-formal and adult education.

Rural Functional Literacy Programme (RFLP) was started just in five districts during 1982-83 and was later extended to eleven districts.

National Service Schemes in Kerala and Calicut Universities incorporated Adult Education and Extension Education as part of their work which helped the movement in a big way.

Kottayam Campaign

Kottayam town in Kerala was made fully literate within a period of one hundred days through the People’s Education and Literacy campaign, Kottayam (PELCK).

Ernakulam Campaign

Ernakulam was declared the first fully literate district in the whole of India. This rare achievement in just a year’s time (1989-90) by the admirable work done by the District Saksharatha Samithy and Kerala Sastra Sahitya Parishat.

Total Literacy

Total Literacy Programme to eradicate illiteracy for the whole of state was inaugurated by the Prime Minister of India on 4th February ’90.

The unique feature of the programme was the inclusion of linguistic minorities in the state in the districts adjacent to Tamil Nadu and Karnataka by divisions into tailor made packages.

Kerala was finally declared a ‘totally literate state on 8th April 1991.

Education for all and Forever

In Kerala, after achieving ‘total literacy’, it was realised that nothing was available to sustain the interest in the neo literates to keep their urge to learn alive. To create an environment for this, the state government took up the Continuing Education Project offered by National Literacy Mission and Kerala State Literacy Mission organised.

Education for all and for ever’ is the motto of Kerala State Literacy Mission. The Mission imparts non-formal, life oriented education to the neo literates. Hence no definite curriculum and learning methodology can be adopted. The kind of education to be imparted to each group is finalised after studying the local culture, social peculiarities, life style and habits of the community concerned. The new knowledge acquired is to help the neo-literates for making positive contributions towards creating a better life for himself and improving the social life accordingly.

Objectives

Retention of literacy skills and provision of opportunities to the neo-litterates to take their learning beyond basic literacy

Creating scope for application of functional literacy for improvement of living conditions and quality of life.

Dissemination of information on development programmes and widening & improving participation of traditionally deprived sections of the society.

Creation of awareness about national concerns such as national integration, conservation and improvement of the environment, women’s equality, observance of small family norms etc. and sharing of common problems of the community.

Improvement of economic conditions and general well being as well as improvement of productivity by organizing short-duration programmes, orientation courses for providing vocational skills and by taking up linkage activities for establishing direct linkage between continuing education and development activities.

Provision of facilities for library and reading rooms for creating an environment conductive for literacy efforts and a learning society.

Ensuring the sustainability of the Kerala Model.

'Beyond Letters’ is an ambitious project visualised by KSLM. The slogan owes its genesis to an understanding of the fact that though none can claim to have a thorough knowledge of all things, at least a general awareness almost all branches of knowledge including information technology has become part and parcel of educational process.

‘Beyond letters’ is poised to give a new sense of direction to the beneficiaries of the literacy campaign. Developmental literacy, legal literacy, environmental literacy, consumer literacy, health literacy, habitat literacy, agricultural literacy cultural literacy, computer literacy, labor literacy, economic literacy, medicinal literacy, heritage literacy etc. are some of the areas covered under this.

Equivalency Programme

Equivalency Programme has been designed by KSLM inorder to help the neo literates to qualify themselves at par with those who finish formal education. The programme helps the neo-literates irrespective of their age to appear for levels 1,2 and 3 which are equivalent to STD 4, 7 & 10 of the formal stream

Training for this is imparted in all the 14 districts with the help of local bodies. Trainers are given special orientation.

KSLM issues certificates to those who successfully complete these courses and these are deemed to be equivalent to the respective levels in formal education.

Thudarvidyabhyasa Kalajatha

Fourteen colourful Cultural rallies were organised which travelled throughout the state simultaneously to popularise the message of Continuing Education among the less adventurous.

The Cultural rally christened Thudarvidyabhyasa Kalajatha’ comprised of art forms which announced the unlimited possibilities of Continuing Education. This was well received by all sections of society and all regions alike.

Continuing Education Centres

The function of CEC include

· Evening class

· Library and reading room

· Discussion group

· Vocational Training Programme

· Sports and adventurous activities

Training Centre

The continuing Education Project in Kerala is implemented through Local Bodies and NGOs. A network of voluntary workers and other activists are oriented towards the objectives of Continuing Education Programme. Several organisations both Governmental and Non-governmental are included in the project for resource mobilisation and training.

Various level training were conducted for different groups involved in Continuing Education with the support of SRC,SCERT, DIET, Govt Departments, Universities, NGOs, Population Cell, CDC etc.

A permanent State Level Training Centre is established for this in Thiruvananthapuram.

Peoples Planning

In the allotment under the 9th plan, the local bodies have been given the right to spend 35-40% for the Projects decided by them. The panchayaths are often willing to spend a part of this amount to conduct skill development courses jointly with the CE centres.

Contact

Kerala State Literacy Mission
Sasthamangalam
Thiruvananthapuram-10
Ph: 0471-314105,314106,314107
E-mail: literacy@md4.vsnl.net.in