Daijiworld Media Network - Panaji

Panaji, May 31: In a landmark moment for the State’s educational development, Goa has been officially declared a fully literate State under the ULLAS (Understanding Lifelong Learning for All in Society) initiative, making it the second State in India—after Mizoram—to achieve this milestone.

With a literacy rate of 99.72 per cent—surpassing Mizoram’s 98.2 per cent—Goa exceeds the Union Ministry of Education’s benchmark of 95 per cent required to qualify as fully literate. Mizoram declared its status just 10 days earlier on May 20.

On the occasion of the 39th Statehood Day, Chief Minister Pramod Sawant described the achievement as a “historic milestone” for Goa’s education journey.

“Building on our 93 per cent literacy rate in 2022, we implemented the ULLAS-New India Literacy Programme to identify and educate the remaining non-literate individuals,” Sawant said. He praised the community spirit that fueled the initiative, with teachers, students, educators, retired teachers, and local panchayats, municipalities, and the Education Department working in unison.

At a press conference, SCERT Director Meghna Shetgaonkar reported that 4,163 people remain illiterate in Goa, often due to age or medical reasons. A total of 82 panchayats achieved 100 per cent literacy, while 33 others surpassed 95 per cent. Among Goa’s 13 municipal areas, only one reached the 99 per cent mark.

Of the 6,299 illiterates identified in remaining areas, 2,136 chose to participate in the programme and completed the learning phase, including assessments.

“With a literacy rate of 99.72 per cent, Goa has far exceeded the 95 per cent benchmark to qualify as fully literate,” Shetgaonkar confirmed.

Union Ministry of Education Joint Secretary Archana Awasthi congratulated Goa on joining Mizoram and Ladakh as the top three regions to achieve this status. She clarified that achieving absolute 100 per cent literacy is rare, hence the Ministry’s 95 per cent threshold.