Frequently Asked Questions
What is Continuing Education?Continuing Education is the logical culmination of the Mass Literacy Campaign. Its main purpose is to provide a mechanism through which people who had participated in the Total Literacy Campaign as well as the Post Literacy Programme may realise their dream. Its main purpose is to help people to continue their learning and lift their general standard of living as well-economically, socially and culturally. It is a programme to help pursue lifelong learning and the Continuing Education Centres (CECs) are conceived as permanent institution of learning.
When was it started in Kerala?
It was started on 2nd October 1998.
What are the programmes of Continuing Education?
The programmes are of two types:
Core Programmes and Target Specific Programmes.
Core Programmes
Target Specific Programmes
Target Specific Programmes are important and useful programmes to help individuals and the community to enrich their life and raise their standard of living.
What is a Continuing Education Centre (CEC)?
A Continuing Education Centre is conceived as a permanent institution to help learners especially the Post Literacy Programme beneficiaries to continue reading and engage themselves in other activities to enrich their life. It is the delivery mechanism of the Continuing Education Programme.
Who are the beneficiaries of the CECs/NCECs?
Neo-literates
Semi-literates
Non-literates
School dropouts/pass outs
Community
Who runs the CEC?
The CECs are managed by Preraks (facilitators)
What is the minimum qualification of prerak?
Minimum qualification of prerak is Secondary School/High School.
Minimum qualification of Nodal Prerak is Graduation.
What are the functions of Nodal Continuing Education Centres?
Nodal CECs will oversee the activities of 10-15 CECs in each districts and render support and guidance to them.
How many NCECs & CECs are there at present?
There are at present 500 NCECs and 3500 CECs spread over the entire state.
How are they distributed?
They are distributed as follows:
| Grama Panchayath | 3 CECs |
| Block Panchayath | 2 NCECs |
| Municipality | 5 CECs + 2 NCECs |
| Corporation | 10 CECs + 3 NCECs |
Who provide the support for running the CECs?
The National Literacy Mission, Ministry of MHRD, Govt. of India
The Department of General Education, Govt. of Kerala
The Local Self Governments
The CommunityWhat is sustainability?
In the context of Continuing Education, sustainability means that CECs and NCECs become permanent institutions to carry out the Continuing Education Programmes. Outside support is not possible for all the time to come. Therefore, the CECs should become self supporting or self sustaining.
What is convergence?
In the context of Continuing Education, convergence means mutual co-operation any tying up the programmes and activities of various development departments including health and education with relevant programmes of CECs.
What is the Equivalency Programme?
The Equivalency Programme is one of the major components of the CE Programme. Its objective is to provide an alternative education programme equivalent to the existing system of formal education.
Who are the beneficiaries of the Equivalency Programme?
This programme is aimed at the neo-literates and school dropouts who aspire to continue their education which would put them on par with others who have successfully completed their course of study under the formal education.
Which are the classes identified for the Equivalency Programme?
Equivalency classes are conducted for IV, VII and X standards.
Who can appear for Xth Standard Equivalency Education?
Ψ Those who have successfully completed IV and VII th Equivalency courses.
Ψ School dropouts
Ψ Those who failed in the SSLC Examination
What is the age limit?
Anybody who has attained 18 years of age at the time of application.
What are the types of courses offered?
There are two types of courses under Xth Equivalency.
i. O level (Basic level) & ii. A level (Advanced level)
What is the duration of the courses?
The duration of the O level course is 5 months and that of A level is 7 months.
Who conducts the Examination?
The Examination is conducted by the Equivalency Examination Board constituted as the government order.
What about the validity of the certificate?
O level certificate is not valid for higher education for which SSLC is the basic requirement. It is also not valid for employment through Public Service Commission. The Certificate is valid for all other purposes including private employment, promotion, visa etc.
A level certificate is equal to the SSLC Certificate and is valid for all purposes for which SSLC is the basic qualification.
Who can appear for A level examination?
All those who pass the O level Equivalency Examination can appear for A level examination.