In 1969, Education Ministers from various countries met at Tehran to discuss eradication of illiteracy. Various measures were taken to achieve this goal. In 1987-February 23^rd, a new movement called “Appeal” (Asia Pacific Programme of Education For All) was inaugurated in New Delhi, to tackle illiteracy and to provide basic education to all. The association declared that illiteracy is more dangerous in the Third World Countries.  Poverty, scarcity of food, lack of nutrition, ecological deterioration, inefficiency in child education and informal education of elder citizen, technological backwardness, inefficiency in utilizing national resources, increase in debt, human right violation, increase in terrorism, uneven increase in population etc were termed as the major reason for illiteracy. “Appeal” (Asia Pacific Programme of Education For All) stated that literacy has an important role in the fight against these backwardness. The convention also realized that formal education is not sufficient as the number of youths is increasing in an uneven manner in Asian Countries. Thus literacy movement aroused as a total remedy to all these problems.
In Kerala the total literacy movement was first initiated at Ernakulam District and Kottayam Municipality in the late 80’s. On 4^th of February 1990, the then Prime Minister Shri V P Singh declared Ernakulam as the first total literate district in India. State wide literacy survey was conducted on 8^th of April 1990. 28.52 lakhs of people were found illiterate. With the help of voluntary oraganisations like Sastra Sahitya Parishath class were conducted to educate the illiterate and on 18^th of April 1991, Kerala became the first total literate state in India.

Kerala State Literacy Mission

As per a baseline study conducted by KSLMA in 4000 wards in the state, it was found that around 12 lakh people still remain illiterate in Kerala which has attained the status of a totally literate state in 1991.

The fact that there are large number of people in the state who are not able to read and write is a matter of great concern. KSLMA has realised this fact and is giving utmost importance to eradication of residual illiteracy also.

Literacy classes are now being conducted under almost all the CECs. The number of learners vary from place to place. The Assistant Preraks are in charge of  Literacy Classes. Preraks, Assistant Preraks, retired teachers, and other volunteers handle the classes.

For more information, visit: www.literacymissionkerala.org