 DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION

BASIC, SOCIAL AND AUDIO-VISUAL EDUCATION

ELEMENTARY AND BASIC EDUCATION

State Schemes of Pre-Primary, Elementary, Basic and Women's Education: Central grants amounting to Rs. 567.40936 lakhs were sanctioned to various State Governments as Central assistance for 1957-58 for Schemes of Pre-Primary, Basic, Elementary and Women's Education included in the Educational Development Programmes of States under the Second Five-Year Plan.

Schemes of Union Territories in the fields of Pre-Primary, Elementary, Basic and Women's Education: Administrative approval and expenditure sanction amounting to Rs. 8.09 lakhs have been issued to various Union Territories for the implementation of the Educational Development Schemes in Pre-Primary, Elementary, Basic and Women's Education for 1957-58 under the Second Five-Year Plan of Educational Development Programmes of Union Territories.

Improvement of Teachers' salary: In 1956-57 the Government of India offered financial assistance to State Governments to the extent of 50% of the additional expenditure involved for improving salaries of teachers at the Primary stage. In 1957-58 this assistance was extended to cover teachers at the Middle stage.

Scheme to Relieve Educated Unemployment.-The Scheme initiated in 1953-54 envisaged the appointment of 80,000 Rural Teachers and 8,000 Social Education Workers by the end of the First Five-Year Plan. Practically all the teachers and about 2,000 Social Education Workers were appointed by various State Governments. During 1957-58, which is the last year for receiving assistance from the Government of India. a sum of Rs. 44,60,647 was sanctioned to various State Governments under this Scheme.

Pilot Projects for Provision of Universal Free and Compulsory Education in a few N E.S. Blocks in each State/Territory: In order that State Governments and Administrations of Union Territories may be suitably equipped with adequate knowledge for tackling all the problems and difficulties that are likely to arise when launching a comprehensive programme of universal, free and compulsory education in the country, the Ministry of Education and Scientific

Research in consultation with the Ministry of Community Development have advised all State Governments and Administrations of Union Territoires, immediately to introduce universal free and compulsory Primary education as pilot projects in a few development blocks in every State/Territory.

Financial Assistance to Voluntary Educational Organisations in Pre-Primary, Primary and Basic Education: Initiated during the First Five-Year Plan the scheme is being continued in the Second Five-Year Plan. Financial assistance to the extent of 66% of the approved non- recurring and 50% of the approved recurring expenditure for developmental purposes was given to the Voluntary Educational Organisations in the First Plan period and in 1956-57. From 1957-58, Central assistance is proposed to be given at the flat rate of 60% of the approved developmental expenditure.

A sum of Rs. 75 lakhs has been allotted for Basic and Social education for the entire Plan period and the provision for 1957-58 is Rs. 12 lakhs. During 1957-58 (up to 31st December, 1957) a sum of Rs. 2,53,243 has been given as grant-in-aid to "Voluntary Educational Organisations", working in the field of Basic and Pre-Primary education only. Progress of the Scheme has, however, been hampered by restrictions placed on the construction of buildings, that is one of the main items for which assistance is sought under the scheme.

A sum of Rs. 8 lakhs has been proposed for inclusion in the budget for 1958-59 for Basic and Pre-Primary institutions.

Scheme for giving loans for construction of Hostels: Under this Scheme a provision of Rs. 200.00 lakhs has been made for the Second Plan period for loans to various categories of educational institu- tion. This provision includes a sum of Rs. 20.00 lakhs for granting loans to Basic and Social Educational Institutions, out of which roughly half the amount is available for Basic Educational Institu- tions. A sum of Rs. 4 lakhs, only is available for Basic Educational Institutions during 1957-58. Till December 1957, two loans of Rs. 45,000 and Rs. 15,000 that are committed expenditure from 1956-57 have been sanctioned. A few applications are still under consideration. Restrictions imposed on the construction of buildings and the need for conservation of steel and cement for priority schemes have affected the operation of the Scheme.

The question of continuing the loan scheme during 1958-59 is under consideration.

Establishment of Post-Basic Institutions: This scheme provides for the establishment of Basic Schools at the Secondary or Post-Basic level. It will be operated both by the Government of India

and State Governments. The Central Government propose to establish a Central Basic School at New Delhi, as recommended by the Standing Committee on Basic Education, the entire expenditure of which will be borne by the Central Government. The State Governments have been requested to establish similar Post-Basic Institutions in their States with Central assistance to- the extent of 60% of the expenditure involved.

A total provision of Rs. 40 lakhs has been made for the entire Plan period. Of this, Rs. 8 lakhs are available during 1957-58. How- ever, as it is a new Scheme, made known to the State Governments only in May, 1957, it has not been possible to make much progress. A few proposals are under consideration.

A sum of Rs. 11 lakhs has been proposed for inclusion in the budget for 1958-59.

Establishment of All-India Council for Elementary Education: The Government of India have set up an All-India Council for Elementary Education. The Council is an advisory body and consists of 23 members including 14 representatives from State Governments; one representative each of the Planning Commission, Central Advisory Board of Education, All-India Council for Secondary Education and the Ministry of Community Development; one Principal of a Training College and two educationists connected with Basic Education, Girls' education and education of the Backward Classes.

The Council will advise the Central and State Governments on all matters relating to Elementary education and prepare programmes for the early implementation of compulsory and free Elementary education. It will also organise research in the administrative, financial and pedagogic problems of Elementary education and assist in the production of suitable literature for teachers and educational administrators to improve the quality of Elementary education and to enforce compulsory attendance.

A budget provision of Rs. 10,000 exists in the current year for meeting expenses connected with the Council. The Council will hold its first meeting before the end of the financial year.

A sum of Rs. 10,000 has been proposed for inclusion in the budget for 1958-59 for the Council.

Seminars, Conferences and Exhibitions in Basic Education: These schemes have been introduced to undertake programmes for the in- service education of teachers and to offer them opportunities to reflect on their experiences and re-evaluate them with the help of other members of the profession.

A seminar was held in September, 1957 at the Sri Ramakrishna Mission Vidyalaya, Coimbatore, that was attended by Principals of Post-Graduate Basic Training Colleges. Another Seminar is being held at Haunsbhavi (Mysore State) attended by the Directors of Education/Directors of Public Instruction of various State Govern- ments.

It is proposed to hold four regional seminars in 1958-59 at a cost not exceeding Rs. 4,000 for each seminar.

Production of Literature on Basic Education: It is a well known fact that there is a great dearth of suitable literature on Basic Edu- cation and that this is one of the biggest hurdles in the effective development of Basic education.

The Government of India are accordingly taking up a programme for production of literature and other material on Basic education. This includes the production of guide books, supplementary reading material for children, source books for teachers and monographs on various subjects connected with Basic education. A provision of Rs. 8 lakhs has been made for the Second Plan period; and a provision of Rs. 1 lakh exists in the budget for the current year. The scheme was finalised only late in the year and steps to implement it have now been taken.

A sum of Rs. 3 lakhs has been proposed for inclusion in the budget for 1958-59.

Central Scheme for Expansion of Girls' Education and Training of Women Teachers: In order to accelerate the pace of girls' education which has lagged behind that of boys, the Government of India has introduced a special scheme for the expansion of girls' education and the training of women teachers under the Second Five-Year Plan. The Plan provision for this is Rs. 250 lakhs. The budget provision for the scheme for the current financial year is Rs. 25 lakhs. The Government of India's contribution may be up to the extent of 75% of the expenditure. The current year's budget provision of Rs. 25 lakhs has been allocated to State Governments on the basis of the number of girls not attending schools in the age group 6-14.

As the finalised scheme and the quantum of the Centre's contri- bution for the current financial year was communicated to State Governments only in November, 1957, very few proposals have been received so far from State Governments.

Standing Committee of the Central Advisory Board of Education on basic Education: The Committee met on 27-8-1957 and made

recommendations of which the most important was on "the integration of Post-Basic education with Secondary education". It was suggested that a committee should be appointed to go into the whole question of how this integration should be effected. The Government accepted the suggestion and appointed a committee.

National Institute of Basic Education: The Institute was estab- lished on 1st February, 1956. Its functions are (i) to conduct researches in Basic education and crafts, and (ii) to train senior administrators and teachers in Basic education.

The second function will be taken up after the Institute has been able to establish itself. In regard to (i), the Institute has so far engaged in the following activities in 1957-58, some of which have been completed:-(i) Researches in Basic Education (Pamphlet); (ii) Current trends in the syllabuses of post-graduate Basic Training Colleges; (iii) some trends in Basic school curriculum; (iv) difficulties in the day-to-day working of Basic school teachers; (v) Bibliography, (vi) Basic education abstracts; (vii) Guide book and textbook for social studies, (viii) Organising a Basic School (Pam- phlet), (ix) Anaylysis and evaluation of correlated lesson plans, (x) Action programme for the improvement of a rural Basic School, (xi) Measuring educational potentiality of crafts, (xii) determination of targets for various crafts, and (xiii) Progress of Basic Education (Brochure).

During the year a proposal to publish a 'Basic Education Quar- terly' was approved by the Government. It will be published by the Institute.

A research wing in crafts has recently been created in the Insti- tute and placed in the charge of a special officer. Two research fellowships have been created in the Institute of the value of Rs. 300 each per mensem.

An advisory body for the Institute has been constituted that has met once to review the research work of the Institute. Its chairman is the Minister of State for Education.

SOCIAL EDUCATION

Research Training and Production Centre: This Ministry has sponsored through the Research, Training and Production Centre, Jamia Millia Islamia, Delhi, in March 1956 research in the field of Reading Material and other teaching aid for neo-literates. On the basis of this study the Centre has prepared 12 specimen books for neo- literates. The project was completed in June, 1957. The total expenditure incurred on the project is about Rs. 40,000. The Centre's report on the project has been received in the Ministry.

Scheme for Setting up Adult Schools: Another project, taken up in cooperation with Jamia Millia Islamia, Delhi, is the setting up of Adult Schools in the country. The basic idea is to find ways and moans to make Adult Education work throughout the country more effective, sustaining and fruitful. The estimated expenditure on the project is about Rs. 2,74,000. The project started in July and will last for about three years.

Appointment of District Social Education Organisers: Social Education activities carried on by the State Education Departments and those carried on by the Social Education Organisers in the Community Project areas have not so far been coordinated by any agency. This is sought to be done by State Education Departments appointing District Social Education Organisers who will be in charge of organising and coordinating all Social education activities in their area, whether it is included in the Development Blocks or not. It is expected that by the close of the Second Five-Year Plan each district will have its District Social Education organiser.

The Scheme was started in 1955-56 and is continued in the Second Five-Year Plan. Posts of 117 District Social Education Organisers were sanctioned to ten States and two Union Territories. Forty-seven posts have been filled so far.

National Fundamental Education Centre: The National Fundamental Education Centre was established by Government of India under the Ministry of Education on 15th May 1956. The objectives of the Centre are to serve as National Centre for training, research and evaluation and to provide leadership in the field of Social education. Its functions are (a) to train the key-personnel of Social education, e.g., District Social Education Organisers, etc., (b) to carry out research and evaluation in the field of Social education, (c) to conduct experiments in the production of better type of material and equipment for Social education and (d) to act as Clearing House of ideas and information pertaining to Social education.

Activities of Centre: The training programme of District Social Education Organisers and Principals of the Janata Colleges is under consideration. It is expected that the training programme will start early in April, 1958.

After Professor Charles Madge, a Unesco Expert in Research and Evaluation, joined, schemes for research were taken up. The Centre will carry out research work in the coming year on (1) expenditure on Social education in N.E.S. Blocks and its effect on Social education programme, (2) training of local leaders, (3) activities of Community Centres, and (4) activities of Women's Clubs.

Experts: Out of the two experts to be provided by the Unesco Professor Charles Madge Joined on 16th December, 1957. The Expert in Audio- visual Aids has yet to join; so also the expert to be provided by T.C.M.

Advisory Committee for Libraries: The Advisory Committee for Libraries appointed to advise the Government of India on matters pertaining to the expansion of library service in the country has completed the first part of its work, namely, to survey existing conditions of libraries in India.

The report of the Committee is being written and it is hoped that it will be submitted to the Ministry at the end of March, or early in April, 1958.

Financial Assistance to Voluntary Educational Organisations: In the Second Plan under the scheme of giving financial assistance to Voluntary Educational Organisations working in certain significant fields of education, there exists a provision of Rs. 7.2 lakhs for institutions of Social education during the present financial year. Out of this, Rs. 2,69,516 have been sanctioned so far. A provision of Rs. 9 lakhs has been proposed for 1958-59.

Evening Institute for Workers' Education: It is proposed to set up a pilot Workers Institute under the Second Five-Year Plan in a city where there is a large labour population. The institute is expected to come into existence in the next financial year.

The total provision for this project for the entire Plan period is Rs. 5 lakhs (originally it was Rs. 10 lakhs). During 1958-59 a provision of Rs. 90,000 has been proposed.

Social Education in Urban Areas: Under the Scheme, it is proposed to set up Co-ordinating Councils to organise Social Education during the course of the Second Five-Year Plan. The provision for the scheme for the entire plan period has been revised from the original allotment of Rs. 25 lakhs to Rs. 15 lakhs. As a result of this the number of coordinating Councils to be established has been reduced from 20 to 12. The scheme has been referred to various State Governments for their comments. There is not much hope of the scheme being finalised for implementation soon and no expenditure is likely to be incurred during 1957-58. The Scheme is, however, expected to start functioning during 1958-59. Accordingly, a provision of Rs. 10,02,000 has been proposed for the year 1958-59.

State Schemes of Social Education including Production of Literature and Library Development: The schemes of Social Education and Library development included in the States Educational

Development Programmes for 1957-58 were approved by the Government of India and the first instalment has been sanctioned to all State Governments. The release of the second instalment is under consideration and orders are expected to issue shortly. The percentage of Central assistance admissible on schemes of Social Education including Production of Literature and Library development during the year under review is 50 per cent.

Prize Scheme for Best Books for Neo-literates: Since 1954 the Government of India have awarded prizes on the best books for neo- literates in all regional languages.

In 1957, as a result of the fourth prize competition, 35 prizes of Rs. 500 each and five prizes of Rs. 1000 each were awarded to authors of books in various regional languages in consultation with the Popular Literature Committee Fifteen hundred copies each of these prize books will be purchased by the Ministry for distribution in Community Projects and National Extension Service Blocks.

The fifth competition on similar lines has been announced and entries will be received up, to 30th April, 1958.

Books for Children-Prize Competition: With a view to developing childrens' literature in the various Indian languages, this Ministry has awarded on the basis of recommendations received from various State Governments prizes to authors of outstanding books for children for the last two years.

As a result of the third competition 22 prizes of Rs. 500 each has been awarded in March, 1958 on the best books for children in various regional languages in consultation with the Children Literature Committee. Two thousand copies of each of the 23 prize- winning books of second prize competition for children have been pur- chased during the period 1957-58 for distribution in Education Centres, Childrens' Libraries etc. Copies of the prize-winning books under the third prize competition will be purchased in 1958-59.