Scaffolding foundational literacy and numeracy of rural children a pedagogic design towards quality education

Abstract

Since the adoption of Constitution in 1950, education holds the pivotal role in Indian developmental priorities. Through the successive policies and five-year plans with well-defined and futuristic educational reforms, India is trying to respond to the requirement of fast changing, knowledge-based societies with its diverse population, culture and tradition. newlineThe 2030 Agenda for sustainable development (UN, 2015) is in alignment with the views above. A total of 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) were announced to transform our world for better living among which SDG 4 gives the future direction of the global education development. It aims to ensure inclusive and equitable quality education and promote lifelong learning opportunities for all. Five of the seven targets of SDG 4 focus on quality education and learning outcomes. newlineThe new education system of India has the vision which is crafted duly to touch each and every citizen s life with the larger goal of creating a just and equitable society. newlineAccordingly, India s New Education Policy 2020 has envisaged an India centered education system that contribute directly to transforming our nation sustainably into an equitable and vibrant knowledge society by providing high quality education to all with an aspiration to be the third largest economy for which there is a need of a vast knowledge resources along with its natural resources. newlineNow, the obvious question is Are we really ready to accept this challenge? newlineAs National Education Policy Draft (Draft NEP) (MHRD, 2019) puts it A large proportion of students currently in elementary school perhaps over 5 crores in number have not attained foundational literacy and numeracy, i.e. the ability to read and comprehend basic text and the ability to carry out the basic addition and subtraction with Indian numerals (p. 55).Therefore, it may be understood that there is a persisting and severe learning crisis in respect of these most basic and foundational skills. newline