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PRATHAM - Every Child in School and Learning Well
Learning and Comics
20th February 2007

By: Mutum Ashok *

How many of us agree to the fact that "children do need reading materials other than the school curriculum books for developing their language skills?"

We as an organization also strongly believe in this. Accessibility to abundant quality reading materials is the key to develop reading skills and enhance those skills to perfection. But it is really important that we know the reading skill level of the children and accordingly come up to certain reading materials that will be suitable for that particular level/child. We are an organization working throughout the country since the past 14 year, specializing in 3 Rs of basic education i.e. reading, writing and basic arithmetic with equal importance given to comprehension. Our larger objective being universalisation of elementary education.

According to the nation wide study "Annual Status of Education Report"(ASER - rural 2006) facilitated by Pratham.
Arunachal Pradesh - only 35.1% (std I-VIII) children can read a simple std II level story of 6-7 lines (survey was conducted in only 8 out of 11 districts).
Assam - only 41.6% (std I-VIII) children can read a simple std II level story of 6-7 lines (survey was conducted in only 17 out of 23 districts).
Manipur - only 29.4% (std I-VIII) children can read a simple std II level story of 6-7 lines (survey was conducted in only 8 out of 9 districts).
Meghalaya - only 46.1% (std I-VIII) children can read a simple std II level story of 6-7 lines (survey was conducted in only 5 out of 7 districts).
Mizoram - only 62.8% (std I-VIII) children can read a simple std II level story of 6-7 lines (survey was conducted in only 7 out of 8 districts).
Nagaland - only 39.6% (std I-VIII) children can read a simple std II level story of 6-7 lines (survey was conducted in only 10 out of 11 districts).
Tripura - only 34.5% (std I-VIII) children can read a simple std II level story of 6-7 lines (survey was conducted in only 2 out of 4 districts).
N.B. For detailed information visit http://www.pratham.org/aser2006.php.

We have started reading clubs cum community libraries for children between the age group of 3-14 years in 8 districts of Assam, 2 districts of Manipur and for Nagaland we have plans to roll out programmes for each and every village.
But it still hurts to know that there are millions other to be taken care of . When I asked to children during my frequent visits to not so far from civilization and interior villages, whether they read comics. Most of them didn't even know what comics are? That's when I was fiddling with the idea of including comics in our reading clubs. Because I feel comics is a fun way to learn the nuances of any language - what to speak, how to speak and when to speak. And children can learn on their own. Might not be the best way but certainly children are going to like it.
If anyone is willing to help, then you can donate comics (no matter how old they are.) They would be of immense help to the children.

I would be more than happy to share more information

You can write to me at Pratham Resource Centre, JK Tower, 7-A/C, A.K.Azad Road, Rehabari, Guwahati -781008
or email me at : aser.northeast AT gmail DOT com or just give me a buzz at +91 361 2733811(O) or +91 94355 44461(M).
website : www.pratham.org

Mutum Ashok supplied this information to e-pao.net
The submitter can be contacted at the address / numbers given above
This article was webcasted on February 20, 2007.

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