Literacy Access: Limited

On International Literacy Day, CE traces the difficulties of first-generation learners, who, with no footsteps to follow, are in a dilemma — to navigate further or be stuck?

- DIYA MARIA GEORGE, SONU M KOTHARI

runs Mudhal Thalaimurai Arakattalai in Kannagi Nagar, says, "In this settlement, there are over 23,704 families, mostly from marginalised backgrounds. Many parents work as daily-wage labourers — plumbing, carpenting, masonry — earning around ₹1,000-₹1,500 on the days of demand, but without a steady monthly income. Because of this, children don't see education as essential; they believe working immediately is the only way to survive. Parents are often unable to guide them due to their own hardships."

This is also the lived experience of Nivetha N, now a third-year BE ECE student, in her higher secondary years. She says, "I was worried about my future — which college, which course, how much money we have to spend, and whether it will get me a job later."

The parents who hold their child's fingers and teach them to walk, fall behind when the walk is in the corridors of educational buildings. Sarath sums up, "They put the child into a school. But then, when it comes to making the child's ambitions a reality, they hit a block. Families end up placing restrictions. Instead, parents should encourage and allow the children to go further. Not just stop with, 'We sent them to school.' That is not enough."

The parents hit the great wall of uncertainty as they lack awareness. Yet, being passionate about the degree that follows names is a dream for many. Like Joy, founder of Ambedkar Reading Circle (ARC), even reaching college was fraught with compromises. "When I first went to college, I had no direction. In our community, whatever was accessible, we would just take that. I did not know about IIT. I did not know about NIT. We just went along," he says.