Tripura’s effective implementation of the National Initiative for Proficiency in Reading with Understanding and Numeracy (NIPUN) mission has garnered high praise from the National Council of Educational Research and Training (NCERT). A six-member NCERT team visited the state to conduct an endline evaluation of the Vidya Pravesh program, branded locally as Vidya Setu, and to monitor NIPUN’s progress from November 5 to 7. The team expressed satisfaction with the program’s reach and effectiveness.
The Vidya Pravesh (Vidya Setu) program, a bridge course adapted by Tripura for incoming Class I students, was developed to address the diverse backgrounds of students entering formal schooling from government schools, private institutions, Anganwadi centers, or home-based environments. The nine-week course is designed to bring all students to a similar starting point before they embark on the grade-appropriate curriculum. Tripura adopted this module at the inception of the NIPUN mission in the state, making it a foundational part of early education.
During the evaluation, a sample of Class I students across Tripura’s districts was assessed using hands-on activities to gauge their problem-solving and comprehension skills. The NCERT team was impressed with the “mission mode progress” of the students, highlighting the presence of NIPUN corners in all schools equipped with rich Teaching Learning Materials (TLMs). The team noted the effort put into developing workbooks, a NIPUN handbook, and the organization of TLM exhibitions that further enriched the learning experience.
Following the evaluation, a meeting was held with NIPUN coordinators and field investigators, chaired by Director of Elementary Education, N.C. Sharma, with the State Nodal Officer of NIPUN, Abhijit Samajpati, also in attendance. Prof. Dr. K. Vijayan, the NCERT team lead, commended Tripura’s NIPUN Cell for its innovative initiatives, saying, “The NIPUN Cell is doing wonderful work and taking creative steps for effective mission implementation.” Other team members, including Dr. Melissa Wallong, Dr. Shalini Dixit, Dr. Anand Ariya, Dr. Shanmugam Vasha, and Dr. Tarun Kaushik, echoed this sentiment.
This recent evaluation follows an initial baseline study conducted by NCERT in June, where the team had also observed significant progress. The success of Vidya Setu in Tripura, with contextualized adaptations, demonstrates the state’s commitment to achieving the objectives of the NIPUN mission by fostering foundational literacy and numeracy skills in young learners.
