Bhubaneswar, Jan 21: The 66th All India Adult Education Conference commenced at KISS on Wednesday, bringing together educationists, policymakers and practitioners to deliberate on the role of adult education in inclusive national development.
The conference is being jointly organised by Indian Adult Education Association and the Kalinga Institute of Social Sciences (KISS).
On this occasion, the Indian Adult Education Association conferred a special recognition on Achyuta Samanta, Founder of KIIT, KISS, and KIMS, in recognition of his outstanding contributions to the field of adult education.
Addressing the gathering as Chief Guest, Dr Samanta said that he had been working in the field of education for over three decades, with a strong emphasis on social transformation through learning. He highlighted that institutions like KIIT and KISS have been contributing significantly to adult education alongside mainstream academics.
Dr Samanta underlined a unique model followed at KISS, where students are encouraged to carry education beyond classrooms. “When a child returns to his or her village during vacations, they are instructed to make at least ten people literate. Education must multiply when it reaches the grassroots,” he said.
He also spoke about the extensive contribution of KIIT and KISS in tribal education, skill development, healthcare and professional education, calling adult education a key driver of social change.
The inaugural programme was attended by Prof. L. Raja, President of the Indian Adult Education Association; Prof. Rajesh, Director of IAEA; Prof. Saranjit Singh, Vice-Chancellor of KIIT and KISS; Suresh Khandelwal, General Secretary of the Indian Adult Education Association, among others.
The aims of the Indian Adult Education Association include promoting all-round development of people, working towards the removal of illiteracy and ignorance, fostering inter-state cooperation, preparing and distributing literature for the common man, and encouraging universities and educational institutions to actively engage in adult education initiatives.
