SOCIAL EDUCATION
National Fundamental Education Centre The National Fundamental Education Centre was established on 15th May, 1956. The objectives and functions of the Centre are :-
1. Objective To serve as a national centre for training, research and evaluation and to provide leadership in the field of Social education.
2. Functions (a) To train key-personnel in 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.
(d) To act as a clearing house of ideas and information pertaining to Social education.
The National Fundamental Education Centre started its full programme of activities as envisaged in the Objective and Functions in March 1958, when it could secure the needed accommodation. The full complement of the academic staff was recruited during the year and the training course for the first batch of District Social Education Organisers started on 7th April, 1958. Sixteen trainees from various States attended the course.
The training course for the second batch started on 17th Novem- ber, 1958. It will continue till 17th April, 1959. The batch consists of 22 trainees.
By the end of December, 1958, material and equipment worth$8,850 were received from Unesco. In addition to this the Unesco provided two Experts, Prof. Charles Madge, an Expert in Research and Evaluation, for one year from 9th December, 1957 to 8th December, 1958, and Mr. A. J. Halls, Expert in Audio-Visual Education, from 7th March, 1958.
The Technical Cooperation Mission has also given aid to the Centre in the shape of audio-visual equipment and a vehicle. In
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the year under report equipment worth $2,371.85, books periodicals and films worth $10,097.57, and a vehicle worth $2,615.13 were received. More equipment are expected during the next three months. The T.C.M. has also provided the services of Dr. Homer Kempfer, an Expert in Adult Education, who joined the Centre on 10th October, 1958.
The Library of the Centre was built up during the year. There are now 1,970 titles in the library which also subscribes to a large number of useful periodicals.
Prof. Charles Madge prepared plans for research to be taken up by the Centre. Soon after the two Research Fellows joined in August and September, 1958, field work on a research project on Community Centres' started. A pilot enquiry on "Village Meeting Places" was completed and its report is proposed to be printed.
A fully equipped hostel for the trainees with separate accommo- dation for men and women was started during the year. But a common mess managed by a committee of the trainees caters for all trainees.
22 foreign students from various countries visited the Centre for periods ranging from one day to one week to study Social education in India.
Programme for 1959-60.-In addition to continuing its training course the Centre will produce prototype audio-visual material for Social education. The second research project will be completed.
Financial Assistance to Voluntary Educational Organisations in the field of Social Education including Library Development.Initiated during the First Five-Year Plan, the scheme is being continued during the Second Plan period. Under this Scheme grants are given to voluntary educational organisations for the promotion of Social education and library development. The Central Government contributes up to a maximum of 60 per cent of approved expenditure, the balance being met by the institution or the State Government concerned.
Out of a budget provision of Rs. 8 lakhs during 1958-59 a sum of Rs. 3,43,809 was sanctioned to thirteen institutions up to the end of December, 1958.
For 1959-60 a budget provision of Rs. 8 lakhs has been proposed.
Institute for Training of Librarians.-An institute for imparting training in librarianship has been established under the Delhi University. Besides providing training for District and State Librarians, the Institute will organise special courses such as
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refresher course for District Librarians, courses for children's libraries etc., conduct research in problems connected with librarian- ship and produce suitable literature for various library courses. A grant of Rs. 1,08,994 was given to the University for the setting up and maintenance of the Institute during 1958-59. The Ministry has undertaken to bear the total expenditure amounting to Rs. 2,66,233 for the scheme during the last three years of the second Plan period.
It is expected that the first course will start in the first week of March 1959.
Evening Institute for Workers Education.-It is intended to set up a pilot worker's institute at Indore to explore the potentialities of Social education work among labourers.
The Workers Institute will attempt to realise the following objectives :- (i) To stimulate a desire for knowledge in the working classes;
(ii) To arouse a sense of social and civic responsibility in them;
(iii) To provide facilities for general education and for enlarging the range of their interests;
(iv) To provide wholesome recreation.
The Institute under the administration of a Social Educationist- cum-Social Worker is designed to provide space for classroom work, various types of clubs, a library and women's activities.
To run the Institute it has been proposed to constitute an Advi- sory Board that will give it the needed supervision and guidance. The Board will broadly include representatives of the Ministries of Education and Labour, State Labour and Education Departments, employers and workers, college teachers and public, social, workers etc. The executive powers will be vested in a small eight-member committee. Details of the Scheme were finalized during the year and the Institute is expected to be established shortly.
Research into Syllabus, Textbooks and Supplementary Material for Adult Schools.-The Research, Training and Production Centre, at Jamia Millia undertook on behalf of the Ministry a scheme of research into the syllabus, textbooks and supplementary materials for Adult schools. With an estimated expenditure of about Rs. 2,74,000 on each project, the scheme was started in July, 1957 and will last for about three years.
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The curriculum of the Adult schools has been phased into four grades. With the framing of the syllabus from the curriculum the first stage of the scheme has been completed. The Centre has now taken up the second stage, in which 38 Adult schools have been set up with the help of four research units and two voluntary agencies. The schools which were started from the middle of this year are running satisfactorily. The regional heads of the four units were trained by the Centre in the beginning of this year. During the period of their training the blueprint of the Adult schools, grade-wise syllabus of the classes., and a teachers's guide were prepared and textbooks and teaching aids were selected. Soon after their training the regional heads returned to their agencies and helped them to set up a few experimental classes to run the syllabus and the plan drawn up during the period of training. These experimental classes will last for a period of about 24 months.
Preparation of Eight-Graded Books for Neo-Literates.-In July, 1957 the Hindustani Cultural Society, Allahabad was entrusted with the work of preparing an eight-graded series for neo-literates. The Scheme involves an expenditure of Rs. 1,54,000 out of which Rs. 50,000 were released to the Society. The manuscripts of the first two books were compiled and are ready for publication. The manuscripts of the next two books of the series are nearing completion.
Advisory Committee for Libraries.-The Advisory Committee for Libraries that was appointed to survey the existing conditions of libraries in India and make recommendations on the future library policy of the Government has submitted its report. The report is under consideration.
Production of Literature for Social Education Workers.-The Idara- Talim-O-Taraqqi of Jamia Millia Islamia was asked to prepare five handbooks for Social education workers, Manuscripts of three books were received in the Ministry-for comments.
The Ministry had also entrusted the job of producing pamphlets on the following three topics to the Planning, Action and Research Institute, Lucknow :
(i) How to Organise a Youth Club
(ii) Farmers' Fairs-How to Organise
(iii) Recreational Activities in Village life
The Institute forwarded the manuscripts to the Ministry for comments.
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Rural Education Committee.-In pursuance of the recommendations of the Sixth Development Commissioners Conference held at Mussorie in April, 1957, under the auspices of the Ministry of Community Development, a Rural Education Committee consisting of the representatives of the Ministries of Community Development, Food & Agriculture and Education was appointed in January, 1958 to examine the functioning of the Janata colleges, Rural Institutes, Manjari schools and Basic, Agricultural schools-with reference to their declared aims and objectives.
The terms of reference of the Committee are :-
(a) To examine the objectives of the institutions in question and to recommend any modifications in the same;
(b) To indicate broadly the lines on which the syllabi of these institutions should be remodelled, wherever necessary, so that the objectives of the institutions are achieved and duplication of effort is avoided;
(c) To suggest modifications for any improvement in these institutions including the objectives so that the output from any of these institutions is not in excess of the requirements.
The Committee visited a number of institutions and discussed problems With the staff of the institutions, the officials of State Governments and a few other officials and non-officials intimately interested in them. It is expected to submit its report to the Gov- ernment shortly.
State Schemes of Social Education and Library Development.The schemes of Social Education and Library Development included in the States Educational Development Programmes for 1958-59 were approved by the Government of India. The procedure for giving grants to the States has now been revised. Under the revised procedure, the States are being given "ways and means advances" by the Ministry of Finance, and the State Governments submit quarterly progress reports. On receipt of the progress report for the third quarter ending December, 1958 and also information on the anticipated expenditure for the remaining quarter, the final sanction will be issued.
Gyan Sarovar-A Popular Encyclopaedia in Hindi.-The second Volume of Gyan Sarovar, a Hindi Encyclopaedia providing easy and pleasant reading for men women and children on diverse interestIng topics was published during the current financial year with
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25,000 copies. This volume has been published in two editions, a popular edition of 20,000 copies at a subsidised price of Rs. 2.50 per copy, and a deluxe edition of 50.00 copies at about Rs. 5 for copy. representing the actual cost of production per copy. Both the edi- tions are available in the market.
The compilation of the manuscript of Volume III has almost been completed and that of Volume IV has been taken in hand. It is expected that the printing of Volume III will be completed by March, 1959 and the project will be entirely implemented by 1959-60.
Vishwa Bharati.-The Ministry is subsidising the publication of another Hindi Encyclopaedia consisting of ten volumes. It is being published by M/s. Hindi Vishwa Bharati, Lucknow. The subsidy is being utilised for bringing down the price at a level within the easy reach of the category of readers for whom this is meant. During the current financial year, Volumes I and II were published with 10,000 copies each. It is expected that Volumes III and IV of the Encyclopaedia would be published by 31st March, 1959 and the remaining six volumes in 1959-60.
Unesco Prize Scheme of Books for New Reading Public.-The Ministry has finalised the scheme for the award of ten prizes of $480 (Rs. 2,280 approximately) each allocated to India by Unesco for distribution to Indian authors of best books for the New Reading public. The details of the scheme were approved by the Unesco and a Press Note announcing the competition has been issued on 27th December, '58. Under the competition the ten prizes will be distributed as under :-
Hindi 4
Tamil 3
Bengali 2
Urdu 1
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10
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Only printed books published between 1st January, 1957 and 31st December, 1958 will be entertained. The last date prescribed for the receipt of entries is 30th April, '59. In addition to the prizes, 1,500 copies of each of the prize-winning books shall be purchased by the Government of India. The results are expected to be finalised by 2nd October, 1959.
National Book Trust.-The National Book Trust that was established on 1st August, 1957 to make available to the people a large volume of good literature at moderate prices, has now drawn up short and, long- term programmes of publication. Rs. 75,000 were
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sanctioned as grant during the current financial year up to the end of December, 1958 for carrying out the activities of the Trust.
Prize Scheme for Books for Neo-Literates.-Additional prizes of Rs. 500 each were awarded to five books/manuscripts in various Indian languages under the IV Competition for Books for Neo-literates on the 26th January, '58.
1500 copies each of the 39 books/manuscripts which were awarded prizes under the IV, Competition were purchased for distribution in Development Blocks in various States.
37 prizes of Rs. 500 each to books/manuscripts in various Indian languages under the V Competition for Books for Neo-literates were also announced on 2nd October, '58. 1500 copies of each of these prize books are shortly to be purchased for distribution in the Development Blocks in various States.
Five books/manuscripts from among these 37 prize books will further be selected for additional awards under the V Competition for Books for Neo-literates.
The VI Competition for Books for Neo-literates has been announced and entries will close in New Delhi oh 30th April, '59.
Organisation of Sahitya Rachanalayas.-To introduce writers to the principles and techniques of good writing for neo-literates, Gov- ernment of India organise every year four Sahitya Rachanalayas in different parts of the country. Each Rachanalaya lasts six weeks and costs about a sum of Rs. 11,000 that is met by the Government of India. During 1958-59 four Sahitya Rachanalayas were allocated to State Governments of Madras, Punjab, Bihar and Delhi.
Purchase of Social Education Literature in Hindi.-To spread the benefit of good literature among persons of low reading skills, the Ministry has been purchasing selected popular books in Hindi from time to time. All publishers in the country were requested through a Press Note to submit their best books brought out during 1956. 1957 and first two and half months of 1958. 328 entries were received. These are under examination by the reviewers. About 60 books will be approved and 5,000 to 10,000 copies of each depending upon the price and actual requirements of various State Governments, will be purchased in cooperation with the State Governments who will bear 50 per cent cost of these books. The balance of the cost price, together with the cost of transport, postage, packing etc. will be paid by the Government of India.