 ELEMENTARY AND BASIC EDUCATION

Universal, Free and Compulsory Primary Education for the Age- Group 6-11 by the end of the Third Plan.-The following recommendation of the Educational Panel of the Planning Commission was placed before the Union Cabinet for consideration :-

(i) the provision of universal, free and compulsory education up to 14 years should be regarded as the ultimate objective and an attempt should be made to realize it in a period of 15 to 20 years at the latest; and

(ii) the immediate objective before the country should be the introduction of universal, free and compulsory education for all the children up. to the age of 11 plus. This target must be reached by 1965-66 at the latest.

The Cabinet gave its general approval to the recommendation and desired that the Ministry of Education should work out the details and the financial implications of the proposal in consultation with the State Governments. This is being done.

All-India Council for Elementary Education.-The Council that was set up in June, 1957 to prepare programmes for the early introduction of free and compulsory Elementary education in the country held two meetings so far, one on 10th and 11th March, 1958, and the other on 10th and 11th October, 1958. The recommendations made at the first meeting of the Council were circulated to all the State Governments/Union Territories for information and necessary action. The State Governments have generally expressed their agreement with the recommendations. The views of the State Governments on the recommendations made at the second meeting of the Council are being received.

Pilot Project for Provision of Universal,. Free and, Compulsory Education in a few N.E.S. Blocks in each State/Territory.-In con- sultation with the Ministry of Community Development, this Ministry advised the State Governments/Administrations of Union Territories to initiate as early as possible pilot schemes in selected Community Development or N.E.S. Blocks for free and compulsory Primary education, in order to enable them to gain adequate knowledge and experience of the problems and difficulties in the way of launching a comprehensive programme in the whole country. Four State Governments and the Delhi Corporation have agreed to start such projects. The matter is being pursued with the remaining States.

Model Legislation for Introducing Free and Compulsory Primary Education.-In accordance with a recommendation of the first meeting of the All-India Council for Elementary Education the Ministry of Education drafted a model legislation on the basis of the experiences of the various State Governments and some foreign countries in this field. This draft is under consideration and will be finalized in consultation with the Ministry of Law and the All-India Council, for adoption by the State Governments with such modification as they consider necessary to suit their own circumstances and needs.

Scheme of Relief of Educated Unemployment and Expansion of Primary Education.-The scheme initiated in 1958-59 envisages the appointment of 60,000 teachers : 15,000 during 1958-59, 20,000 during 1959-60, and 25,000 during 1960-61. The scheme also provides for the construction of 6,000 quarters for women teachers and the appointment of 1,200 inspecting officers. The allotment of teachers, etc. for all the three years has been intimated to the States. All State Governments are implementing the scheme with the exception of Uttar Pradesh with whom the matter is being pursued. Additional teachers required by any State can be allotted out of any possible, savings. The Government of India will assist the State Governments (i) at 100 per cent on the emoluments of teachers and inspecting officers for a period of three years, commencing from the year of appointment, (ii) with equipment at Rs. 250 per teacher, (iii) providing cost of short- term training of teachers at Rs. 10 per teacher per month, (iv) for the construction of staff quarters at Rs. 2,500 per quarters, and (v) for undertaking experiments in introducing compulsory education at the Primary stage.

State/Union Territory Schemes of Pre-Primary, Elementary, Basic and Women's Education (Elementary stage).-According to the revised procedure introduced this year regarding payment of Central assistance to State Governments for the implementation of their Development Programmes under the Second Five-Year Plan, lump-sum "ways and means advances" to the extent of 75 per cent of the admissible Central assistance for all sectors of development are being released by the Ministry of Finance in regular monthly instalments, beginning in May, 1958. The amount of Central grants admissible to the State Governments for any category of schemes will be calculated during the fourth quarter of the year on the basis of actual progress achieved by them during the first three quarters and estimated expenditure during the fourth quarter and scheme-wise sanction of Central grants is to be issued accordingly.

To expedite development work the Administrations of all the Union Territories were advised to go ahead with the implementation

of all the schemes in this group within their financial competence and refer only such schemes to this Ministry for administrative approval and expenditure sanction as are beyond their powers.

The proposals of the States/Union Territories for 1959-60 were discussed by this Ministry with the representatives of the State Governments/Union Territories and the Planning Commission. The State Governments/Union Territories are expected to work out their schemes in accordance with the accepted programme. Central assistance will be available to them on the same basis as in 1958-59.

Pilot Scheme for Improving Science Teaching at the Elementary Stage.-To improve the teaching of science at the Elementary stage, the Government of India has initiated a pilot scheme. This is an experimental measure designed to be carried on for two years in the first instance.

There will be a Science Consultant for each project. He will be a trained science graduate with experience of teaching science in schools. He will

(i) observe the teaching of science in Elementary schools in a selected area, and give demonstration lessons showing improved techniques and approaches,

(ii) collect, study and bring to the notice of science teachers good books, visual aids etc., and find out the fields in which there is dearth of suitable material and suggest remedial measures,

(iii) arrange workshops, conferences, study-circles etc. of science teachers,

(iv) experiment with the production of suitable teaching aids from locally available and inexpensive materials,

(v) undertake a study of existing syllabus for science in Elementary schools and work out a model syllabus in the light of his experiences, and

(vi) examine and devise an improved syllabus in science for teacher-trainees in the Junior Basic Training colleges.

The annual expenditure on one project is expected to be about Rs. 8,400 recurring and about Rs. 3,500 non-recurring for a period of two years. There will be one project for each State.

The scheme is proposed to be implemented through the State Governments from 1959-60 and the entire expenditure involved will be borne by the Central Government. A provision of Rs. 1.00 lakh

has been made in the budget for the next financial year for the purpose.

In order to ensure a certain amount of uniformity of approach by the Science Consultants, it is proposed to hold a central seminar-cum- short-term training course for the Consultants. A provision of Rs. 5,000 has been included in the budget for the next financial year for this purpose.

National Programme of Orientation of Elementary Non-Basic Schools towards the Basic Pattern.-To bridge the gap between the Basic and non-Basic Elementary schools, a programme of "orientation" of all non- Basic schools towards the Basic pattern has been drawn up. It is expected that this will not only enrich the contents of Primary education but will also give it a suitable social bias which is so essential for building up the democratic attitudes in the future citizens of the country. This programme envisages the introduction of the following types of activities in non-Basic schools :

(a) activities leading to healthy living;

(b) activities leading to training in citizenship and social living;

(d) purposive activities connected with simple crafts;

(e) recreational and cultural activities;

(f) social service activities, linking the school with the home and community.

The chief merit of the "orientation" programme lies in the fact that it does not require large financial outlay or specially trained personnel, the two most important factors responsible for the slow development of Basic education.

To accelerate the pace of "orientation" programme, during the year under review four Regional Seminars of the District/Divisional Inspectors of Schools on this subject were organised. A consolidated report of these Seminars is in the process of being published.

The State Governments are primarily concerned with the imple- mentation of the programme. They have been informed that Central assistance to the extent of 60 per cent of the expenditure involved will be available to them for this programme if it is included in the States' Educational Development Programme.

A sum of Rs. 14,000 has been provided in the budget for the next financial year for the organisation of seminars and conferences on Basic education.

Grants-in-aid for the Establishment of Post-Basic Institutions.- This scheme provides for financial assistance to voluntary organisa- tion and State Governments for (a) starting new Basic schools at Secondary or post-Basic level, (b) improving existing post-Basic schools, and (c) upgrading the existing Senior Basic schools. This scheme is being implemented from the current financial year.

The rate of Central assistance in the case of voluntary organisa- tions is 60 per cent of the approved expenditure--both recurring and non-recurring. In the case of State Governments, it is 100 per cent.

A sum of Rs. 43,000 was sanctioned as grants-in-aid to voluntary organisations up to the end of December, 1958. A provision of Rs. 1.00 lakh has been made in the budget for the next financial year for grants to voluntary organisations under this scheme and a sum of Rs. 3.50 lakhs has been provided in the budget for, the next financial year for grants to State Governments for the purpose, as one of the Centrally sponsored schemes.

Central Basic School, New Delhi.-A proposal has been under consideration to establish at New Delhi an urban Basic school of a high standard in order to demonstrate what Basic education can achieve under proper conditions. Certain administrative matters including the selection of the site of the proposed school, to be known as Central Basic School, and its management are still under consideration.

A sum of Rs. 1.00 lakh has been included in the budget for the next financial year for expenditure on the establishment of this School.

National Institute of Basic Education.-The main functions of the Institute are as follows :-

(1) Undertaking, coordinating and encouraging of research in Basic education

(2) Training (only occasional short-term courses for higher level personnel in the field of Basic education are undertaken)

(3) Functioning as a clearing house of information on Basic education

(4) Production of literature on Basic education

(5) Improvement of current practices in Basic education through action programmes and field work

(6) Research on crafts and arts with reference to Basic education

The Institute completed the following work during 1958-59 :

Research

The following research projects were completed and reports pre- pared for publication in the form of research monographs :

(1) Measuring educational potentiality of crafts

(2) Difficulties of Basic school teachers in their day-to-day work in the various States of the country

(3) Evolving model syllabus for post-Graduate Basic Training colleges in India

Work on the following research projects is being done at present :

(1) Comparative costliness of Basic and non-Basic education

(2) Developing correlated syllabus for Basic schools

(3) Fixing targets for craft work for the various grades of Basic schools

(4) Analysis and evaluation of language readers for grades 1 and 2

Training

Two short-term training courses were run by the Institute for the administrators of Basic education in the country.

Production of Literature

The following pamphlets were published during this period :

(1) Basic Activities for Non-Basic Schools

(2) Exhibition in Basic Education

(3) "Buniyadi Talim"-a quarterly journal on Basic education (Four numbers of 1958 published so far)

(4) Progress of Basic Education

The following publications are in the press and are expected to be out during the present financial year :

(1) Fibre Craft

(2) Basic Education Abstracts 1958 Nos. 1 and 2

(3) Basic Education Bibliography

(4) Hindi edition of Basic Activities for Non- Basic/Schools

(5) "Buniyadi Talim"-first issue of 1959

Improving Current Practices

A new action programme of improving a rural Basic school in Delhi has been taken up. Detailed guidance is being provided in

teaching, organisation of routine activities, adopting new assessment practices, maintaining of records etc.

Craft and Art Work

With the establishment of the Craft and Art Section at the Institute, experiments in a few crafts were taken up. Experiments were conducted in the utilisation of fibre craft as a possible craft for Basic schools and a pamphlet has been prepared on that. Experiments have also been made in the utilisation of waste and inexpensive material for craft work. Similar experiments have been made in the utilisation of inexpensive and waste material for art work and for decorating Basic schools.

Scheme for Production of Literature and other Material for Basic Education

To meet the growing needs of children, teachers and educationists in the field of Basic education for suitable literature and other material a comprehensive scheme has been formulated. It comprises the following five sub-schemes :-

(i) Production of Guide Books for Basic School Teachers.-Under the scheme, a prize competition has been organised for encouraging the competent authors to prepare guide books for teachers of Basic schools for grades I to VIII. The last date for receipt of entries for this first competition was 30th November, 1958. The entries received are being processed.

(ii) Monographs on Basic Education.-Expert authors have been requested to write monographs on various aspects of Basic education. While the first instalment of five monographs is expected to be issued this year, the preparation of the second instalment has been taken in hand.

(iii) Production of Supplementary Reading Material for Children of Basic Schools.-Proposals from publishers all over India have been invited for undertaking the publication of adaptations from suitable books in English and other foreign languages and making them available at cheap rates after receiving Government subsidy.

(iv) Research Projects for Production of Craft Material for Basic Schools.-Research projects on educational possibilities of various crafts have been entrusted to a few post-Graduate Basic Training institutions. Research projects on three of them have already been approved and that on the fourth is expected to be approved shortly. The minimum approved expenditure on these projects may be borne by the Central Government, or shared with the State Government or the educational organisation concerned

(v) Source Books for Basic School Teachers.-This scheme envisages the production of source books on different Basic school

subjects. Two subjects, namely, (a) General Science and (b) Social Studies have been taken up this year.

A budget provision of Rs. 2,00,000 has been made for the scheme for 1959-60 during which all the sub-schemes mentioned above are proposed to be continued.

Financial Assistance to Voluntary Educational Organisations in the field of Pre-Primary and Basic Education.-Financial assistance under this Scheme is given to voluntary educational organisations working in the field of pre-Primary and Basic education for strengthening and developing their existing services and for intro- ducing new ones. Started under the First Five-Year Plan the Scheme is being continued under the Second Plan. Private organisations do not often have permanent sources of income for expansion and development, but, are usually dependent on donations from philanthropists. During the last few years, however, even these existing sources of income have been drying up so that such organisations are looking more and more to the Government for financial help.

During 1958, a sum of Rs. 4.48 lakhs was sanctioned to 61 organisations working in the field of pre-Primary and Basic education. It would have been possible to extend assistance under the Scheme to a greater number of organisations, but for the ban imposed on the construction of buildings in order to conserve steel and cement for high priority projects under the Second Plan.