Foundational Literacy and Numeracy Assessment Test (FLNAT)

Foundational Literacy and Numeracy Assessment Test (FLNAT)

Context:

The Department of School Education and Literacy (DoSEL), Ministry of Education, Government of India, is set to administer the Foundational Literacy and Numeracy Assessment Test (FLNAT) as part of the ULLAS – Nav Bharat Saaksharta Karyakram on March 17, 2024.

Relevance:

GS-02 (Social justice)

Test Overview:

  • FLNAT will be conducted in all districts of participating states/UTs, with District Institutes of Education and Training (DIETs) and Government/aided schools serving as test centres.
  • The assessment comprises three subjects: Reading, Writing, and Numeracy, each carrying 50 marks, totaling 150 marks.
  • Developed to evaluate foundational literacy and numeracy skills of registered non-literate learners.

Previous Assessments:

  • Two FLNATs were conducted in 2023, in March and September, certifying a total of 36,00,870 learners.
  • The test is conducted in regional languages, aligning with the focus on promoting multilingualism and using the mother tongue or local language as the medium of instruction, as outlined in NEP 2020.

Significance of FLNAT:

  • FLNAT serves a crucial role in assessing the impact of teaching-learning sessions under ULLAS – Nav Bharat Saaksharta Karyakram.
  • Several UTs, including Chandigarh, Puducherry, Lakshadweep, and Goa, aim to achieve 100% literacy through FLNAT.
  • Qualifying learners will receive certificates issued by the National Institute of Open Schooling (NIOS), recognizing their foundational literacy and numeracy skills.