The Telangana state government is committed to make the government schools comprehensive. For this, the government has chosen the academic year 2022-23. Govt is implementing a three-pronged strategy.
The first is Mana Ooru Mana Badi, Second is English medium, As the third weapon, the Tholimettu Prorgamme 2023 (First Step Program) was undertaken.
The results of Mana Uru-Manabadi and English medium studies are now visible. Significant results will come from the Tholimettu 2023 (first step) programme which will start soon under Foundational Literacy and Numeracy Mission. Educationists believe that with the implementation of these three government schools will get a new look.
Bilingual books with Telugu on the right side and English on the left side are being distributed so that the students can study. First step Programme will start from August 15 in Government Schools. The government has taken up the Tholimettu 2023 programme from this year for the improvement of educational standards and qualitative change in the state.
The main objective of this program is to enable the students to achieve the minimum competencies. This work will start from August 15 in 23,179 primary schools of the state. 11,24,563 students will be benefited by this. Teachers monitor each student’s progress, teach according to their levels, and implement the program to meet certain minimum competencies.
The primary school stage is like the foundation of schooling. Quality education is realized only when the students in this stage are able to achieve the competencies of their respective classes. But, in the post-corona situation, the competencies of children have fallen to a lower level. More than 75 percent of children are unable to read and write. To overcome this, the Telangana school education department will implement a special program called ‘Tholimettu‘.
| Name of the programme | Tholimettu 2022 |
|---|---|
| Title | Check the First Step Programme 2022 details |
| Subject | TS DSE launched the Tholimettu Programme 2022 under FLN mission |
| Category | Learning Enhancement Programme |
| Website | https://scert.telangana.gov.in/ |
| FLN Mission | Foundational Literacy and Numeracy Mission 2022 |
| తొలిమెట్టు | Download Tholimettu Programme details from here |
| FLN Highlights | Download FLN Highlights PDF file from here |
‘Tholimettu’ programme will start from August 15 across the state. The action plan of this program has been prepared by the school education department officials. This year, the authorities have set a target for the children to achieve the minimum competencies. As part of this, 52,000 primary school teachers in the state will be trained in three phases. This training will start from 30th of Jul month.
If these come, then the competencies are achieved
- Reading
- Students should read 20 words per minute in class 1,
- 25 words should be read fluently per minute in class 2,
- 30 words should be read fluently per minute in class 3,
- 40 words should be read fluently per minute in class 4,
- 50 words should be read fluently per minute in class 5.
- Reading and Understand:
- Students of classes 3, 4, 5 should be able to read and understand the given paragraph/song/poem.
- If 5 questions are given to test this.. 4 out of them should be able to do.
- Writing:
- 1st class children should write simple words, multiplication words,
- 2nd class students should write accented words,
- 3rd to 5th class students should able to write paragraphs of 4 or 5 sentences.
- At least 4 out of 5 words should be written without mistakes.
Download Tholimettu Modules
| Tholimettu Module Name | Tholimettu Handbook |
|---|---|
| Tholimettu Telugu Module | Tholimettu (First Step) Telugu Handbook |
| Tholimettu English Module | Tholimettu (First Step) English Handbook |
| Tholimettu Maths Module | Tholimettu (First Step) Maths Handbook (TM) |
| First Step Maths Module | Tholimettu (First Step) Maths Handbook (EM) |
| Tholimettu EVS Module | Tholimettu (First Step) EVS Handbook |
| First Step EVS Module | Tholimettu (First Step) EVS Handbook |
| First Step Urdu Module | First Step (Tholimettu) Urdu Module |
First Step Programme
‘Tholimettu’ (First Step) program is being implemented from the academic year 2022-23 for all children (Class 1 to 5) to practice basic language and math skills. As a part of this program, teaching and learning programs have to be implemented in a planned manner for all the students. Due to covid conditions since March 2020, children have been logging behind in achieving competencies prescribed. NAS-2021 results also revealed the levels of children competencies.
To make the children attain all the competencies with respect to their classes a better practice should be provided on minimum abilities first and then focus on class wise competencies. Therefore, in the academic year 2022-23, in the months of June, July and August, teaching and learning plans have to be formulated and implemented focusing on the minimum competencies required for the students of class 2 to 5 to continue in the respective classes.
Primary education is like the foundation of schooling. It paves the way for the achievement of educational goals. Students will be able to achieve elementary and higher level skills only when proper foundational linguistic skills are practiced at the elementary level. Unfortunately, quality education in schooling has become ambiguous over the past decade. Students are lagging behind at the primary level in the acquisition of basic competencies and the gap keeps whidening throughout schooling.
The 2021 National Achievement results reveal that around 70% of students are at minimum level or below in the language acquisition. It seriously affects the learning of students. In addition to this, the learning crisis caused by the Corona epidemic for two years from March 2020 has brought many challenges to the school education. Considering these circumstances, Department of School Education has decided to conduct Tholimettu/ First Step program at the primary level in the state of Telangana in partnership with ‘Central Square Foundation’, a voluntary organization for improving basic linguistic & numeric competencies to achieve class-wise learning outcomes in the academic year 2022-23.
Accordingly, the State Council of Educational Research and Training has prepared model annual, unit / lesson plans and daily period plans for teachers, keeping in view of their work load for classes 1 to 5. Utilizing these, the teachers are expected to make the teaching and learning processes meaningful for their respective classes, and motivate the children to participate actively to make their learning joyful. Teachers can discuss these plans in school complex meetings, conduct demonstration lessons and create new plans as per their need to gain more expertise in their respective subjects. Based on those, teaching and learning processes can be organized objectively in terms of planning in professional capacity development.
Plans for teaching and learning process
| Name of the Plan | download the Plans |
|---|---|
| Annual Plans 2022 | Subject wise, class wise Year plans 2022 (Month wise, Week wise and Day-wise Annual Plan) |
| Lesson Plans 2022 | Subject wise, class wise Unit plans 2022 |
| Period Plans 2022 | Subject wise, class wise Period plans 2022 |
Tholimettu 2022 (The First Step Program 2022): The Telangana State has launched Tholimettu program for Classes 1 to 5 in all the TS schools to improve the foundational outcomes and bring all students on par with the class level. In this regard, all teachers have been trained on implementation of Tholimettu in cascade mode during the months of July and August, 2022.
Further the DEOs, MEOs, Complex HMs, Mandal FLN Nodal Officers, CRPS at District, Mandal and Cluster levels have been oriented in respect of the Tholimettu’ program in different spells, on their roles and responsibilities towards providing academic mentoring and support to teachers. A copy of the module has been provided to the District and Mandal Level Nodal Officers.
The State and District officials have also visited schools after the launch of Tholimettu on 15th August, 2022 to review the implementation of the program at District, Mandal and School level. Secretary, School Education along with State officials have visited 5 districts and conducted review meetings with DEOs, Mandal and Cluster FLN Nodal Officers, and the gaps in implementation were analyzed.
Consequently, it has been decided to take up an intensive and focused implementation of the Tholimettu’ program from 15.10.2022 to 31.10.2022 wherein teachers will exclusively focus on teaching and learning process in the classrooms, as required by the pedagogy advocated under the ‘Tholimettu’ program.
In order to provide supportive supervision during this period, monitoring officers including State level officers, SCERT faculty, District In-charges, DEOs, District Samagra Shiksha Coordinators, MEOS, Mandal FLN Nodal Officers and Cluster Nodal Officers are hereby instructed to visit schools and observe the classrooms.
In the Tholimettu monitoring handbook, the monitoring protocols have been clearly specified, with respect to the number of schools to be visited by the officers. A copy of the said monitoring protocols is enclosed herewith, for ready reference and it shall be followed scrupulously.
Further Additional Directors and Joint Directors, who have been appointed as observers shall visit the districts allotted to them and extend supportive supervision for effective implementation of the Tholimettu’ program. They shall also follow the prescribed Monitoring Protocol of visiting the districts allotted to them, for at least 2-days a week, and submit reports to the DSE By the end of this intensive implementation fortnight for Tholimettu’ program, it is expected that we shall achieve significant change in the classroom teaching and learning processes, which shall serve as a basis for achieving the larger objectives of FLN.
Guidelines on First step module
- This module contains Month wise, Week wise and Day-wise Annual Plan for classes 1 to 5 along with detailed period plans covering one Bridge activity (to be transacted in 5 periods) and one unit ( to be transacted in 10-15 periods).
- All these plans are in alignment with our Discourse Oriented Pedagogy and aim at achieving the specific learning outcomes prescribed for Classes 1 to 5.
- A number of activities are suggested to make the classroom environment learner friendly. Teachers are suggested to ensure the involvement of all the students in the classroom activities.
- The Annual plan is prepared for 28 weeks @ 5 days per week i.e., for 140 days, giving a liberal margin of almost 60 days for all celebration days, examinations and other activities.
- The TLM suggested can be easily procured by the teacher from his/her surroundings.
- Teachers are instructed to go through the plans beforehand and make necessary modifications so as to suit to the specific needs of their individual classrooms.
- Further it is suggested that they keep the TLM ready before entering the classroom for effective transaction of the classroom activities.
- It is hoped that by the time teachers complete the transaction of Unit -1 following the period plans in this module they will be habituated to write and transact effective period plans for the remaining units
What is Foundational Literacy and Numeracy?
FLN: The Education system aims to achieve Foundational Literacy and Numeracy by 2026-27, where, by Grade 3 every child can Read with Comprehension, Write, Basic Mathematical Operations and Learn basic life skills. The NIPUN vision of the Mission is to create an enabling environment to ensure universal acquisition of foundational literacy and numeracy, so that by 2026-27 every child achieves the desired learning competencies in reading, writing and numeracy at the end of Grade III and not later than Grade V.
- Foundational Language and Literacy: The pre-existing knowledge of language helps in building literacy skills in languages. The key components in Foundational Language and Literacy are:
- Oral Language: Development Includes improved listening comprehension; oral vocabulary and extended conversation skills. The experiences in oral language are important for developing skills of reading and writing.
- Decoding: Involves deciphering written words based on understanding the relationship between symbols and their sounds.
- Reading Fluency: Refers to the ability to read a text with accuracy, speed (automaticity), expression (prosody), and comprehension that allows children to make meaning from the text. Many children recognise aksharas, but read them laboriously, one-by-one.
- Reading Comprehension: Involves constructing meaning from a text and thinking critically about it. This domain covers the competencies of understanding texts and retrieving information from them, as well as interpreting texts.
- Writing: This domain includes the competencies of writing aksharas and words as well as writing for expression.
- Foundational Numeracy: Foundational Numeracy means the ability to reason and to apply simple numerical concepts in daily life problem solving. The major aspects and components of early mathematics are:
- Pre-number concepts: Count and understand the number system.
- Numbers and operations on numbers: Learn conventions needed for mastery of Mathematical techniques such as the use of a base ten system to represent numbers.
- Shapes and Spatial Understanding: Perform simple computations in her/his own way up to three-digit numbers and apply these to their day to life activities in different contexts.
- Measurement: Understand and use standard algorithms to perform operations of addition, subtraction, multiplication and division on numbers up to three digits.
- Data Handling: Identify and extend simple patterns starting from repeating shapes to patterns in numbers, interpret simple data/information in his/her daily life activities.
Lakshyas
Learning Goals of the NIPUN Mission: The National Mission will declare the overall national targets in achieving learning outcomes, including year wise outcomes to be achieved by the year 2026-27 by each State/UT. The overall literacy and numeracy targets to achieve the objectives of the Mission are set in the form of Lakshya or Targets for Foundational Literacy and Numeracy starting from the Balvatika.
- Balvatika
- Recognises letters and corresponding sounds.
- Reads simple words comprising of at least 2 to 3 alphabets.
- Recognizes and reads numerals up to 10.
- Arranges numbers/objects/shapes /occurrence of events in a sequence.
- Grade 1
- Reads small sentences consisting of at least 4-5 simple words in an age appropriate unknown text.
- Read and write numbers up to 99.
- Perform simple addition and subtraction.
- Grade 2
- Read with meaning 45-60 words per minute.
- Read and write numbers up to 999.
- Subtract numbers up to 99.
- Grade 3
- Read with meaning at least 60 words per minute.
- Read and write numbers up to 9999.
- Solve simple multiplication problems.
Under the Tholimettu Programme (FLN Programme), the Government of Telangana is focusing on enhancing the Foundational Literacy and Numeracy skills among school children in Primary Schools, Upper Primary Schools and High Schools which are having Classes I to V from the Academic Year 2022-23 to mitigate the learning loss due to COVID 19 situations. In this context, it has been planned to implement FLN programme from the Academic Year 2022-23 to enable students of all Primary & Upper Primary Schools and High Schools which are having Classes I to V to attain basic competencies.
The action plan
- For each Mandal, one Nodal Officer has to be nominated as Mandal FLN Nodal Officer for all Primary & Upper Primary Schools and High Schools which are having classes I to V in the Mandal.
- The Mandal FLN Nodal Officer shall visit Schools (2) days in a Week in the Mandal so as to cover all Primary & Upper Primary Schools and High Schools which are having classes I to V in the Mandal once in two months.
- The School Complex HM shall act as Cluster FLN Nodal Officer. He/ She has to perform academic monitoring including FLN in the Primary & Upper Primary Schools and High Schools which are having classes I to V under his/her jurisdiction in addition to normal duties as School Complex HM Job Chart.
- The Cluster FLN Nodal Officer shall visit Schools (2) days in a Week in the Complex so as to cover all Primary & Upper Primary Schools and High Schools which are having classes I to V in the Complex once in a month.
- Four to Five efficient Teachers (in different subjects) from each School Complex are to be identified by Mandal FLN Nodal Officer as Resource Teachers and one of them shall accompany the Mandal FLN Nodal Officer and Cluster FLN Nodal Officer at the time of visit of Schools in that School Complex on rotation basis.
- Mandal FLN Nodal Officers and Cluster FLN Nodal Officers shall have to upload the Visit Reports of academic monitoring through online from time to time.
- The Job Chart of Mandal FLN Nodal Officer is as per Annexure-I and job chart of Cluster FLN Nodal Officer is as per Annexure-II enclosed herewith.
- Fixed travel allowance not exceeding Rs.6,000/- per annum will be paid to Mandal FLN Nodal Officers from Samagra Shiksha towards performing visits to Schools.
In this context, the District Educational Officers are requested to take immediate action as follows:
- To nominate Mandal FLN Nodal Officer as per criteria mentioned below immediately and furnish the details of Mandal FLN Nodal Officers to the under signed on or before 28-07-2022.
- The senior most Gazetted Head Master of High School in the Mandal shall a be nominated as Mandal FLN Nodal Officer. If the senior most Head Master of the mandal is holding the charge of MEO then the next senior GHM shall be nominated as Mandal FLN Nodal Officer.
- In case, there are no Gazetted HMs in the Mandal, the Assistant senior most School Officer. of High School/UPS shall be nominated as Mandal FLN Nodal.
- To issue instructions to the Mandal FLN Nodal Officers for of four to identification five efficient Teachers (in different Complex as Resource subjects) from each School Teachers.
- To get the details of Resource Teachers, School Mandal FLN Nodal Complex wise from the Officers in the District and issue regard instructions with to Nodal Officer accompany one the Mandal FLN Nodal Officer and Cluster FLN among them on the day of visit to Schools in Complex the School for academic monitoring on rotation basis.
- To issue instructions to the Mandal FLN Nodal Officers and Cluster FLN Nodal Officers in the District to take up academic monitoring with immediate effect as per Job Chart.
- To allot mandals in the District among the Coordinators working in the District Project Office of Sanmagra Shiksha for supervision and active involvement in guiding the concerned in the respective Mandals from time to time for effective implementation of the activity.
The Regional Joint Directors of School Education, Hyderabad & Warangal are informed that they have to visit (2) days every week covering 5 to 6 Schools, in the districts under their jurisdiction to monitor for effective implementation of the Programme. The District Educational Officers have to visit (2) days every week covering5 to 6 Schools. in the district to monitor for effective implementation of the Programme. Further, the Regional Joint Directors of School Education, Hyderabad & Warangal and all the District Educational Officers in the State have to pay their personal attention by taking up all necessary measures to achieve the task of attaining basic competencies among the targeted School Children and furnish visit/compliance reports to the undersigned from time to time.
Job Chart of Mandal FLN Nodal Officer
- The Mandal FLN Nodal Oflicer shall visit all Primary & Upper Primary Schools and High Schools which are having classes I to V in the Mandal for at least 2-days in a week covering 4 to 5 schools The Mandal FLN Nodal Officer shall ensure to visit all schools in the Mandal at least once in every 2 months.
- The Mandal FLN Nodal Officer shall supervise/monitor all the activities related to FLN and he/she has to ensure achievement of learning outcomes and academic standards of children He/ She shall be assisted by a Resource Teacher and Cluster Resource Person during the visits.
- 4 to 5 Resource Teachers per complex shall be identified and oriented for Academic monitoring. The respective Resource Teachers of each complex shall assist the Mandal FLN Nodal Officer on a rotational basis during his/ her visit in the complex.
- Mandal FLN Nodal Officer needs to be well acquainted with the quality parameters and Learning Outcomes to be achieved and the status of the Mandal vis-à-vis District and State. He / She shall strive to improve the academic performance of all the students in the Mandal and achieve the specified FLN program goals/indicators.
- Mandal FLN Nodal Officer shall prioritize visiting Remote/ Tanda schools / low performing schools with reference to basic competencies and learning outcomes.
- During the visits, the Mandal FLN Nodal Officer needs to observe Classroom Teaching Learning Process (TLP), students’ classroom participation and abilities; conduct random (spot) assessment for children for basic competencies in literacy & numeracy; cross check with records; review; provide academic support and record the same in the Academic Guidance Register (AGR).
- Visit reports of academic monitoring shall be uploaded online by the Mandal FLN Nodal Officer.
- Mandal FLN Nodal Officer shall ensure child-wise performance tracking on a monthly basis.
- The same shall be analyzed, reviewed and gaps shall be identified to provide necessary academic support.
- Mandal FLN Nodal Officer, in coordination with Cluster Nodal Officers and Resource Teachers, shall develop a Mandal action plan to implement FLN and improve the FLN levels in the Mandal.
- Mandal FLN Nodal Officer shall conduct review meetings once in a month with all the Cluster FLN Nodal Officers, Resource Teachers & HMs to review the academic performance specifically with respect to FLN, other quality indicators of the FLN program, share insights from classroom observations and formulate clear action points for course correction.
- Mandal FLN Nodal Officer shall attend all School Complex Meetings in the Mandal and ensure effectiveness of the meetings as per agenda. Any other activity assigned by higher authorities.
Job Chart of Cluster FLN Nodal Officer
- The School Complex HM shall act as Cluster FLN Nodal officer. He/she shall visit all Primary & Upper Primary Schools and High Schools which are having classes I to V in the School Complex for at least 2-days in a week covering 4 to 5 schools.
- The Cluster FLN Nodal Officer shall ensure to visit all schools in the School Complex at least once in a month.
- The Cluster FLN Nodal Officer shall supervise/monitor all the activities related to FLN and he/she has to ensure achievement of learning outcomes and academic standards of children. He/ She shall be assisted by a Resource Teacher and Cluster Resource Person during the visits.
- 4 to 5 Resource Teachers (in different subjects) per complex shall be identified and oriented for Academic monitoring.
- The respective Resource Teachers of each complex shall assist the Mandal FLN Nodal Officer and Cluster FLN Nodal Officer on a rotational basis during their visits in the complex.
- Cluster FLN Nodal Officer needs to be well acquainted with the quality parameters and Learning Outcomes to be achieved and the status of the Complex vis-à-vis Mandal, District and State. He / She shall strive to improve the academic performance of all the students in the Complex and achieve the specified FLN program goals/indicators.
- Cluster FLN Nodal Officer shall identify low performing schools and specific action plan has to be prepared and implemented for improvement of basic competencies and learning outcomes During the visits.
- The Cluster FLN Nodal Officer needs to observe Classroom Teaching Learning Process (TLP), students’ classroom participation and abilities; conduct random (spot) assessment for children for basic competencies in literacy & numeracy; cross check with records; review; provide academic support and record the same in the Academic Guidance Register (AGR).
- Visit reports of academic monitoring shall! be uploaded online by the Cluster FLN Nodal Officer.
- Cluster FLN Nodal Officer shall ensure child-wise performance tracking on a monthly basis. The same shall be analyzed, reviewed and gaps shall be identified to provide necessary academic support.
- Cluster Nodal Officer shall develop a School Complex action plan to implement FLN and improve the FLN levels in the Complex by utilizing the services of Resource Teachers.
- Cluster FLN Nodal Officer during the review with HMs, focus to be given on academic performance specifically with respect to FLN, other quality indicators of the FLN program, share insights from classroom observations and formulate clear action points for course correction.
- The Resource Teachers of the Complex shall also be invited for the Review. Any other activity assigned by higher authorities.
Cluster FLN Nodal Officers:
- Visit all primary, upper primary and high schools having classes 1 to 5 in the complex in a month.
- Conduct and record classroom observations using Tangerine App.
- Ensure that a significant change in the classroom teaching and learning processes, as is achieved in all the schools within the cluster, by October 31st .
- After the classroom observation, conduct a debriefing session with the staff and further provide academic support and record the same in Academic Guidance Register.
- Identify and analyze academic issues and gaps at a complex level, and course correct during the Complex meetings with the support of Cluster Resource Teachers.
- Record and share good practices at the cluster level.
Mandal FLN Nodal Officers:
- Visit all primary, upper primary and high schools having classes I to V in the Mandal once in 2 months.
- Conduct and record classroom observations using Tangerine App.
- Ensure that a significant change in the classroom teaching and learning processes, as is achieved in all the schools within the Mandal, by October 31st .
- After the classroom observation, conduct a debriefing session with the staff and further provide academic support and record the same in Academic Guidance Register.
- During Mandal level review meeting, identify and analyze academic issues and gaps at a mandal level, and course correct with the support of Mandal Resource Teachers.
- Record and share good practices at the mandal level.
District level Officers (DEOs, Sectoral Officers):
- Visit schools as per the monitoring protocol (copy annexed) and conduct classroom observations using Tangerine App.
- Ensure the implementation of monitoring process within the district as per the guidelines.
- Ensure that a significant change in the classroom teaching and learning processes, as is achieved in all the schools within the district, by October 31st .
- During District level review meeting, identify and analyze academic issues and gaps at a district level, and course correct with the support of District Resource Teachers and other officers.
- Record and share good practices at the district level.
State level Officers (Observers, SSA, SCERT):
- Visit the allotted districts and extend supportive supervision, as per the monitoring protocols.
- Ensure the implementation of monitoring process within the allotted districts as per the guidelines.
- Ensure that a significant change in the classroom teaching and learning processes (copy annexed), as is achieved in all the schools within the allotted districts, by October 31st.
- Before the state level review meeting, identify and analyze academic issues and gaps in the field level, discuss and provide guidance with the support of District and State Resource Teachers and other officers.
- During the state level review meeting, highlight the key issues and best practices of the allotted districts.
What is FLN?
FLN is broadly conceptualised as a child's ability to read basic texts and solve basic maths problems (such as addition and subtraction). Foundational Literacy and Numeracy is one of the major themes of the NEP 2020.
What is aim of FLN?
Govt. of India has launched NIPUN Bharat Mission for FLN. The aim of FLN is to ensure that children learn in a joyful manner through play, stories, rhymes, activities, local art, craft and music and develop strong foundations for lifelong learning. The mission outlines learning outcomes which have been designed in a spiral and progressive manner from Preschool to grade three aiming at holistic development and learning.
When was launched the FLN?
Tholimettu is a FLN program has been launched in the the name of the First Step Programme on 15th August, 2022 in all TS Schools across the Telangana State by the Directorate of School Education.