Programme for 1959

Preparation of ten model lessons each in Hindi, History, Geography and Science, for different grades with teachers' manuals and exercises.

Completing the interpretation of data in History and Science obtained from the analysis of textbooks.

Try-out of the lesson plans in Social Studies, General Studies and General Science.

The try-outs of the U.N. project lessons.

The completion of the pamphlet, 'Hints on Textbook Production for Authors and Publishers'.

A report on the Delhi Syllabus project for guidance in other Indian States.

Central Bureau of Educational and Vocational Guidance

Seminars and Conferences.-During the year under review the Central Bureau offered technical assistance to Guidance organisations, Teachers' colleges, universities etc. Two-day seminars on educational and vocational guidance in Secondary schools were organised under the direction of the Central Bureau, at the following institutions :-(i) Dev Samaj College, Ferozepore in May, 1958; (ii) Meerut College, Meerut in July, 1958; (iii) Y.M.C.A. Counselling Centre, Bangalore in October, 1958; (iv) Jeevan Bharati, Surat in November, 1958; and (v) B.R. College, Agra in December, 1958. These Seminars were attended by Heads of Secondary schools, teachers and students.

The seminars discussed the role of educational and vocational guidance in school programmes at the Secondary (Middle and High school) stage, with particular emphasis upon (i) vocational orientation of school-leavers, (ii) curricular orientation of, the "delta" class pupils and (iii) general orientations of pupils from the "feeder". schools entering the High schools. The discussions included a minimum but adequate school guidance programme and the use of guidance aids such as phychological tests, guidance filmstrips and posters, manuals etc.

For the representatives of the Central Universities, a conference on guidance and student personnel work at the university level was held at the Central Bureau in June, 1958. The Conference discussed and suggested plans for providing guidance and student personnel services for the university/college youth. It was addressed by Dr. Wesley Llyod, Chairman of the American Personnel and Guidance Association's Committee for International Relations and Dean of Students in the Brigham Young University.

The Central Bureau prepared the agenda and working papers for the All-India Educational and Vocational Guidance Association's 1958 Annual Meeting and Conference on Guidance that was held at Jabalpur from 12th to 15th April, 1958. The Department of Education, Government of Madhya Pradesh, acted as the host. It was attended by representatives of Guidance organisations, Teachers' colleges, universities, and the Directorates of National Employment Service.

In May, 1958, an one-day conference of Principals and Counsellors of those Delhi schools in which school guidance programmes are being implemented, was held. It recommended the inclusion of guidance services in the regular school programmes accepted for purposes of grant-in-aid by the Government.

Guidance Personnel Training and Guidance Services.-One session professional course of ten months' duration for counsellors and directors of guidance was started in July, 1958. One nominee each of the Governments of Andhra Pradesh, Assam, and Kerala, three lecturers of Teachers' colleges and four teachers of High schools joined the course. The course is intended to provide adequate training in the theory and practice of guidance in Secondary schools and colleges.

A set of seven filmstrips on educational and vocational orientation is being prepared with the help of the United States Technical Cooperation Mission in India. The texts of these filmstrips correspond to the seven diversified courses which the Multipurpose school system includes. In case they are found useful in school guidance work, this may be produced in large numbers for use in Secondary schools.

Three issues of a mimeographed bulletin entitled "Guidance News" containing guidance information received from the Guidance orga- nisations in the country, and articles on guidance and counselling practices and aids, were brought out during this period.

Research.-Activities under Research related to the preparation of psychological tests useful for school guidance work and experimental study of the vocational development of Secondary school youth.

Projects involving the preparation of a guidance battery for use in the "delta" class and a battery of selection tests for the science group are in progress. The two types of tests are complementary to each other, the guidance tests help in the proper selection of a curricular course at the "delta" class, and the selection tests help to assess the pupil's performance in the skills and knowledge acquired by him in a particular subject. Another project involving the adaptation of the Wechsler Adult Intelligence scale was undertaken. This test has been in use in this country since the war, but it is considered desirable that its properly tested adaptation for schools and colleges should be acceptable for guidance purposes.

An experimental study of vocational development of the Secondary school youth from Delhi area was planned and the project is in progress.

The Central Bureau prepared, as in 1957-58, suitable psychologi- cal tests for use in the Government of India Public Schools Merit Scholarships scheme.

A survey of the guidance needs of the college freshmen in a Delhi college was undertaken. The purpose of this survey is to assess students' needs and problems in the academic, social, economic and personal fields, and to use this knowledge and information for planning guidance and student personnel services in the university/ colleges.

Collaboration with the National Employment Service, Ministry of Labour.-The Central Bureau is represented on the Working Group on Vocational Guidance and Employment Counselling set up jointly by the Ministries of Labour and Education. The Working Group held two meetings, in April and September, followed by a joint. meeting of the Directors of State Guidance Bureaus and State Directors of National Employment Service. These meetings discussed the questions of cooperation and division of, responsibilities between educational and employment services authorities at the Centre and in the States and took decisions that were unanimous.

Programme of Work for 1959-60.-The research projects begun in 1958-59 will continue. Seminars and short-term courses of training will be undertaken. Work on follow-up of the students at present receiving training will be undertaken. This will help to evaluate the outcome of the training course in progress.

'Guidance News, will continue to be issued. A workbook for teachers on guidance services in schools and a brochure on the work of the Central Bureau are proposed to be brought out.

Central Institute of Education

During the session ending on 25th April, 1958, 91 students were on the rolls for B.Ed. class and 18 for M.Ed. class of the Institute. All the students who took the M.Ed. examination and 87 of the students who took the B.Ed. examination were successful. Of the M.Ed. students, two and of the B.Ed. students, five secured distinction. Of the eleven students who were working for the Ph.D., two were awarded the degree.

The new session started in July, 1958 with 100 students for the B.Ed. course and 24 for the M.Ed. course.

Plans for short-term intensive courses in the methodology of art for untrained art teachers were prepared. The Art Department of the Delhi Polytechnic and the Art teachers in Delhi schools were consulted in preparing the syllabus.

The Basic school attached to the Institute was converted into a full-fledged eight-year Senior Basic school having its own accom- modation.

The project on "Reading for Pleasure" that was started with the object of instilling in children a love for reading, is now in its second phase.

During this period the Child Guidance Centre of the Institute under a Child Psychologist gave more time and attention to the inservice training of teachers and research. The Advisory Committee of the Institute has recommended the appointment of a Reader in Child Guidance and a social worker. The Extension Services Department of the Institute continued its activities. The projects launched by the Department, viz., organisation of home-rooms, the introduction of improved examinations and tests and 'the School Beautiful' proved popular and successful. The Department organised a course on Physical education for Physical Training instructors.

The organisation of workshops on evaluation for the entire staff a particular school that wishes to improve its system of internal examination was a new feature introduced in extension work. Six schools benefited from these workshops so far. A study circle has now been started at St. Thomas Higher Secondary School, besides the one at the Institute.

During the year under review the Institute brought out the following publications :-

(1) The Mentally Retarded Child

(2) Evaluative Criteria for Teachers' College

(3) First Steps in the Socialisation of Children in the Central Institute of Education Nursery School.

(4) The Community School in the Philippines

Programme for 1959.-Besides normal activities of the Institute plans are afoot to reorganise the Institute into a centre of educational research. The Central Research Advisory Committee has recommended the amalgamation of the Central Bureau of Textbook Re- search and the Central Bureau of Educational and Vocational Guidance with the reorganised Institute. The Institute also hopes to experiment on a combined course of general education and professional training on the lines of the teacher education courses in the United States of America and the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics. The Advisory Committee of the Institute has approved the scheme in principle.

The Institute proposes to take up a study of the social adjustment of Public school merit scholars and a study of the curriculum from the point of view of national integration.