ANNUAL REPORT 1958-59

 INTRODUCTION

This Annual Report of the Ministry of Education is meant to cover the financial year 1958-59. While it reports progress achieved during the period between 1st April and 31st December, 1958, and indicates the progress expected during January-March, 1959, and the programme for 1959-60, it also makes an attempt to indicate the progress for the months of January-March, 1958.

Following the sad demise of Maulana Abul Kalam Azad on 22nd February, 1958, the erstwhile Ministry of Education and Scientific Research was bifurcated under Presidential orders into two Ministries, namely, Ministry of Education, and Ministry of Scientific Research and Cultural Affairs, in April, 1958. Mainly, items of work dealt with in the Department of Education of the former Ministry and those relating to Physical education, sports and youth welfare were retained in the Ministry of Education, while the scholarships schemes dealt with in the erstwhile Ministry were reallocated between the new Ministries according to the broad subjects for which each of them is responsible.

The Educational Development Programme under the second Five-Year Plan envisages, amongst other things, the provision of Primary education up to 11 years of age for the maximum number of children within the limited resources available. There has been increased activity in all fields falling under the purview of the Ministry during 1958-59, marking a steady progress inspite of the prevailing financial stringency and the need for economy in all directions.

As a result of a recent appraisal of the Plan, the original educational outlay of Rs. 307 crores, Rs. 212 crores for the States schemes and Rs. 95 crores for the Centre has been reduced to Rs. 275 crores, Rs. 207 crores for the States and Rs. 68 crores for the Centre. Out of Rs. 68 crores, the total allocation for the educa- tional schemes of the Ministry of Education, as now organized, stands at Rs. 45 crores. To contribute towards speedy and effective implementation of second-Plan schemes, the mode of payment of Central assistance to the States has been changed. Lump-sum "ways and means advances" to the tune of 75 per cent of the total admissible Central assistance are being given to the State Governments in nine equal monthly instalments by the Ministry of Finance. Final payment is to be made in February, 1959, on the basis of progress achieved during the first three quarters and anticipated

expenditure in the last quarter. In some specific fields, the administrative heads of Union Administrations were advised to go ahead with the implementation of schemes that are within their financial competence, without reference to the Central Government.

As recommended by the Educational Panel of the Planning Commission and endorsed by the Education, Ministers' Conference of September, 1957, the target of introducing universal, free and compulsory Elementary education for the age group 6-11 by 1965-66 was generally approved by the Cabinet. Details are being worked out in consultation with State Governments and several steps have been taken for the successful attainment of this objective. The All-India Council for Elementary Education set up in June, 1957, to prepare programmes for the early introduction of compulsory and free Elementary education met twice during the period. While its several recommendations are now being implemented by the Centre and the States, the Ministry has drafted a model legislation on Primary education which is expected to be finalised shortly. To start with, as suggested by the Ministry, some State Governments agreed to launch a few pilot projects for compulsory Primary education in Community Development or N.E.S. Blocks. With the objective of expanding Primary, education in rural areas and relieving educated unemployment a scheme was launched for appointing 60,000 teachers and 1,200 inspecting officers, and constructing 6,000 quarters for women teachers during the last three years of the second Plan.

For improving science teaching at the Elementary stage, a pilot scheme has been initiated for two years in the first instance with one project per State. A science consultant for each project will be appointed to effect necessary improvements in science teaching. 61 voluntary organisations were given a total grant of Rs. 4.48 lakhs during this period for the promotion of pre-Primary and Basic education. While State Governments and voluntary organisations are liberally assisted for spreading the Basic system of education, a national programme for orienting Elementary non-Basic schools towards the Basic pattern is under implementation. The various steps selected under this programme do not require fully trained personnel or large finances. Established in February, 1956, the National Institute of Basic Education has been successfully carrying out its various programmes of research, training and publication of literature. State Governments are given 100 per cent, and voluntary organisations 60 per cent, financial assistance towards improving the existing post-Basic institutions or starting new Basic schools at Secondary or post-Basic level. The establishment of a Central Basic School at New Delhi to demonstrate what an urban

Basic school can achieve under proper conditions is under way. In addition to the schemes of 'Prize Contests for Books for Children', 'Organisation of Sahitya Rachanalayas for Training Writers of Children's Books', and 'Production of Model Books for Children', a programme has been taken up for the production of suitable literature on Basic education in the form of guide books, monographs, supplementary reading material and source books.

The Educational Survey of India started in 1957-58 is now over. While the District and State tables and reports have been received from most of the States, the all-India tables and reports are expect- ed to be ready shortly.

Started in 1957-58 under the second Five-Year Plan, the scheme of expansion of girls' education and training of women teachers has progressed well enough during 1958-59. While only a sum of Rs. 93,133 was received by three State Governments during 1957-58 under this Centrally sponsored scheme, a total sum of Rs. 48,74,971. was sanctioned to State Governments and Union Administrations during the period under report. Stipends for women trainee-teachers, attendance scholarships for girls, construction of rent-free quarters for women teachers particularly in rural areas are the purposes for which Central assistance is given under this scheme.

The National Committee on Women's Education set up in May, 1958, under the chairmanship of Shrimati Durgabai Deshmukh to go into the various problems of girls' And women's education submitted its report on 5th January, 1959, which is now under examination.

In the field of Secondary education, the total amount of Central assistance to State Governments during 1958-59 for the reconstruction of Secondary education is Rs. 3.33 crores. The number of Multipurpose schools set up by the end of March, 1958, under the scheme is 1,143 against the target of 1,187 by the end of the second Five-Year Plan period and the number of schools of the Higher Secondary type established under the scheme by March, 1958, is 340 For research projects into problems, connected with Secondary education, a total sum of Rs. 1,57,412 was sanctioned to 24 institutions/organisations.

The All-India Council for Secondary Education which has been functioning as an autonomous organisation is to be reorganized as a Directorate attached to the Ministry of Education. The total number of Extension Services Departments in the Training Colleges set up by the Council so far to provide inservice training to Secondary school teachers is 53. The highlights of the Council's activities

comprise organisation of science clubs in Secondary schools to promote science teaching, organisation of workshops and seminars for headmasters, subject-teachers and other teachers on the new goals of Secondary education and the project of examination reform etc. A well organized Examination Unit with 14 Evaluation Officers is now functioning under the Council.

The Central Institute of English, Hyderabad, to improve the standards of teaching English in the country has started functioning under the supervision and control of an autonomous governing body from 17th November, 1958.

In the field of Higher education, the introduction of the three year degree course is now under way in eighteen universities in addition to the Universities of Delhi and Jadavpur, which had introduced the course in 1943-44. The expenditure on introducing this reform is shared equally by the Ministry of Education and the University Grants Commission on the one hand, and State Governments and private managements on the other.

Proposals for starting a Rural Institute of Higher Education in each of the States of Punjab and Madhya Pradesh, in addition to the ten Rural Institutes functioning from 1956-57 are under consideration. The Three-Year Diploma in Rural Services offered by the Rural Institutes has been given recognition by the Government of India for a period of five years in the first instance. The question of recognition of this diploma by the universities is under consideration of the Inter-University Board.

In addition to the various programmes of the Ministry for the production and popularisation of audio-visual aids in education, which are going on, the establishment of the National Institute for Audio- Visual Education, New Delhi, is now practically complete and it is expected to start functioning shortly.

In the field of Social education, the most important step was the establishment of the National Fundamental Education Centre in May, 1956. The Centre has started its programme of, training District Social Education Organisers. The training of the first batch was completed in April, 1958, and the second batch of 22 trainees is now under training.

The Advisory Committee of Libraries that was set up to survey the existing conditions of libraries in this country and make suitable recommendations has submitted its report. The Institute for Training of Libraries under the Delhi University is expected to start functioning from March, 1959, with financial assistance from the Ministry.

For studies of Indian nationals abroad, several scholarships schemes administered by the, Government of India have been in operation in addition to the scholarships and fellowships offered by various foreign Governments, foreign organisations and institutions, United Nations and Unesco and those under the Colombo Plan and Point Four Programme. Similarly, a number of scholarships schemes of the Government of India have been in operation for studies of foreign nationals in India in addition to the scholarships and fellowships offered to them under Colombo Plan and by Unesco. Of the Government of India schemes for Indian students inside this country, the schemes of 'Merit Scholarships in Public Schools', 'Post-Matric Merit Scholarships Scheme', 'Research Scholarships in Humanities' and 'Scheme of Scholarships for the Scheduled Castes, Scheduled Tribes and other Backward Classes' are the important ones. In addition a new scheme of 'Scholarships and other Educational Facilities for the Children of Political Sufferers' has been instituted to come into effect from 1959-60.

In the field of Physical education and youth welfare, under the Labour and Social Service Scheme during April-December, 1958, a sum of Rs. 32.78 lakhs was sanctioned for holding 1,762 labour and social service camps with a total strength of 1,38,987 campers. A sum of Rs. 14.79 lakhs was sanctioned to 17 universities, 13 State Governments and one Union Administration for the construction of 79 recreation hall-cum-auditoria, 14 stadia, nine swimming pools, seven open-air theatres, seven pavilions and two cinder tracks. The Lakshmibai College of Physical Education which started functioning on 17th August, 1957, has entered into its second year with 45 students on its rolls. Among various important and useful programmes and steps undertaken for the promotion of Physical education and sports in the country, mention may be made of the 'National Physical Efficiency Drive' to be launched shortly, financial assistance for Vyayamshalas and Akharas and other institutions and organisations in the field of Physical education and sports, award of a running Trophy to the university producing the largest number of players participating in national and international tournaments and the appointment of a committee to enquire into the prevalence of low standards of performance by Indian teams and athletes in Asian and Olympic games. The National Discipline scheme, now administered by the Ministry of Education, has been able to cover 210 schools and institutions with 1,10,000 children under training.

For the development of Hindi, the new schemes introduced last year under the second Five-Year Plan have maintained good progress. Up to 31st December, 1958, about 1,40,000 technical terms in Hindi in various subjects were evolved. Out of this, 33,600 terms

have been finally approved by the Government of India, while 7,298 terms have been submitted to the Cabinet for approval. A Dictionary Unit with one General Editor and six Editors has been set up in the Hindi Division of the Ministry for preparing a dictionary of scientific and technical terms evolved by the Board of Scientific Terminology.

The various recommendations made in the Sanskrit Commission Report, which was submitted in December, 1957, are under consideration. As recommended by the Commission, a scheme of giving grants to private organisations for the revival of Sanskrit has been initiated. The question of setting up a Central Sanskrit Board to advise the Government on the promotion. of Sanskrit is also under consideration.

With a view to economising expenditure and effecting greater efficiency, steps have been taken to integrate the Central Educational Library and the Central Secretariat Library. 21 publications of educational interest were brought out by the Publications Section during the period, January-March, 1958 and 47 publications were brought out during the period between April-December, 1958. Among the publications brought out, 'Home Science in Colleges and Universities in India', 'Basic Hindi Vocabulary', 'Rural Higher Education Annual', 'Indian University Administration', 'Thoughts on Education by Mahatma Gandhi', and 'Report of the Sanskrit Commission' may be mentioned.