Lucknow (Uttar Pradesh) [India], November 30 (HBTV): DEVI Sansthan, a leading advocate for foundational literacy and numeracy (FLN) in India, hosted the "Leadership Circle" on November 28-29 in Lucknow. The two-day event convened policymakers, corporate representatives, and grassroots organizations from 19 states, including Jammu & Kashmir, Tamil Nadu, Telangana, Madhya Pradesh, Andhra Pradesh, and union territories like Puducherry, to address regional challenges and advance the goals of the NIPUN Bharat initiative.

Ashish Kohli, Director of Elementary Education, Himachal Pradesh, inaugurated the event. On the second day, Avanish Kumar Awasthi, Advisor to Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath, served as the Chief Guest. Speaking at the CMS campus, recognized as one of the largest schooling systems globally, Awasthi emphasized the importance of improving learning outcomes and equipping youth with essential skills.

He stated: 'It is inspiring to see representatives from 19 states gathered for this important cause. Foundational literacy and numeracy must reach every block in the country. By incorporating feedback from CMS and implementing the ALfA pedagogy, we can strengthen education and empower future generations to contribute to the nation's progress. My message to all of you is to document success stories, derive meaningful data, and share your results.'

The summit featured key policymakers, including Sufeena Bano, Director of Elementary Education Office, Baramulla, J&K; Tassaduq Hussain Mir, Director of Elementary Education, Srinagar, J&K; Ramesh Prasad Lakher, District Program Coordinator (BSA), Samagra Shiksha, Madhya Pradesh; and Mohd Amzad, FLN District Program Lead, Telangana. Together, they discussed innovative strategies to address challenges in foundational literacy and numeracy, focusing on regional adaptations and sustainable solutions.

A significant focus of the event was DEVI Sansthan's ALfA pedagogy (Accelerated Learning for All), which has demonstrated transformative impacts on underserved children, dropouts, and adults seeking literacy. Policymakers highlighted challenges like infrastructure gaps in Kashmir and rural literacy disparities, advocating tailored solutions to improve FLN outcomes. Emphasis was placed on paired learning and joyful teaching methods to sustain engagement and enhance results.

DEVI Sansthan's collaborative efforts with governments, NGOs, and corporates were celebrated. Successful FLN programs in states like Himachal Pradesh, Uttar Pradesh, and Mizoram, along with adult literacy initiatives in Haryana, Rajasthan, Uttarakhand, and West Bengal, were recognized as scalable models for nationwide implementation.

(ANI)