Itanagar, February 26 (NationPress) The Chief Minister of Arunachal Pradesh, Pema Khandu, officially opened the Foundational Literacy and Numeracy (FLN) Centre in Doimukh, located within the Papum Pare district, on Thursday. This milestone signifies a pivotal advancement in enhancing early childhood and primary education across the state.

Designed in accordance with the National Education Policy 2020 and the NIPUN Bharat Mission initiated by the Government of India, this Centre stands out as a pioneering effort in the nation aimed at ensuring that all children develop essential literacy and numeracy abilities by the conclusion of Grade 3, while also respecting the local culture and educational requirements of Arunachal Pradesh.

During the inauguration, the Chief Minister highlighted that foundational skills are crucial for all future learning, stressing that a child who struggles to read or perform basic math in primary school may find it challenging to keep up in later education stages.

He characterized the Centre as a groundbreaking reform aimed at enhancing early learning results in government schools through structured, engaging, and child-focused methodologies.

The Centre utilizes a play-based teaching approach and promotes the use of local languages in the early years to facilitate improved understanding and comfort in learning among children.

It offers ongoing assessments and remedial assistance while prioritizing teacher training and active involvement from the community.

An official from the Education Department indicated that the literacy program emphasizes oral language development through storytelling, conversations, phonics-based reading techniques, guided comprehension, dictation practice, and writing skill enhancement.

To foster activity-oriented learning, a customized Android board featuring digital lessons aligned with the CBSE curriculum has been introduced.

The numeracy section focuses on cultivating number sense and basic arithmetic skills using the Concrete-Pictorial-Abstract method, alongside problem-solving capabilities and peer learning.

Moreover, the Centre includes a Cultural Heritage Hub designed to immerse children in the rich traditional knowledge and diverse tribal heritage of Arunachal Pradesh, helping them to maintain a connection with their cultural roots.

A STEM and SPACE Lab, equipped with over 80 scientific and space technology tools, has also been established to encourage experiential learning and instill a scientific mindset among students up to Class XII.

Khandu noted that this initiative is a collaborative effort supported by NHPC Limited, HDFC Bank, the district administration’s Untied Fund, the Local Area Development Fund (LADF) from the Pare Hydro Project, and contributions from corporate social responsibility (CSR).

He expressed heartfelt thanks to Doimukh MLA Nabam Vivek and all participants for their dedication, particularly acknowledging Deputy Commissioner Visakha Yadav for her leadership in bringing this vision to fruition.