CHAPTER XII ACTIVITIES IN COMMON AND CLEARING HOUSE FUNCTIONS
In this chapter, is included an amount of the various activities undertaken by the, Ministry, not covered by the earlier ones. These activities include policy formulation, development planning, budgeting, encouragement to the progressive use of Hindi, reservation of posts in the services for Scheduled Castes/Tribes and other backward classes, and student welfare measures. Some of them pertain to the Departments of Education and Culture in common.
Also included in this chapter is an account of the clearing house functions followed during the year. One of the important functions of the Union Ministry of Education is to act as a clearing house of information on all matters relating to educational development. The Ministry, accordingly, collects, compiles and publishes educational statistics, brings out journals and other published material on education and culture in Hindi and English. A students Information Service Unit in the Ministry attends to enquiries about facilities for higher education in this country and abroad.
Conference of Education Ministers A Conference of Education Ministers of States and Union Territories was held in New Delhi on July 13-14, 1978. The resolutions adopted and decisions taken at this Conference are:
I. Universalisation of Elementary Education The Conference approved a frame-work of action for implementation of universalisation of elementary education on a time-bound basis based on the recommendations of a working group set up in collaboration with the Planning Commission. The framework of action emphasises the following aspects:-
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(1) National target of enrolment of 320 lakhs of children in the age group 6-14 during the next Five Year Plan 1978-83. This will imply enrolment of 90% of the children in the age group 6-14.
(2) Location of schools to cover all uncovered habitations within a span of 1-3 years with priority to rural and backward areas particularly remote tribal areas.
(3) Enrolment to be planned school-wise and block-wise and district-wise maps to be prepared to identify backward and disadvantaged pockets.
(4) All out effort to enrol either in formal or non-formal education system, girls and children belonging to under-privileged and backward sections.
(5) Periodical monitoring of both of enrolment and attendance.
(6) Optimum utilization of existing facilities and use of double shifts.
(7) Academic year and vacations to be planned with reference to local needs.
(8) Unified elementary educational administration.
(9) Objectives of universalisation of enrolment and retention emphasised.
(10) Every child in age group 6-14 shall be enrolled at 6+and shall continue to learn on full- time basis, if possible, and on part-time basis, if necessary.
(11) Provide 50 per cent of the State plan budget for elementary education.
(12) Ensure 30 per cent of this for qualitative improvement.
(13) Review and revise existing teacher training curricula and inservice programmes and strengthen primary teacher training institutions.
(14) Central assistance to educationally backward States for innovation and experimentation and non- formal education programmes.
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The Conference, while approving these proposals made special mention of the following :-
(1) The provision for voluntary effort in the massive expansion of elementary education particularly in non-formal education.
(2) That the primary schools have to be provided the necessary facilities, particularly a simple functional building to ensure effective education.
(3) The quality of the teacher has to be improved and hence teacher education deserves special attention.
(4) Special efforts needed for enrolment and retention of girls, Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes and wherever necessary special incentives such as midday meals, uniforms, attendance scholarships etc., to be provided.
(5) Since the requirement of funds will be large, efforts should be made to attract private donations for school improvement programmes which should be eligible for income tax rebate.
(6) Special efforts needed to provide for tackling the problems faced by the Hilly States and desert areas.
(7) Time-bound programme to be taken up by which NCERT should be able to provide not merely the framework and guidelines but also model instructional material for the non-formal education programmes.
II. Educational Structure and its Content The Conference considered the structure of formal education in the country. It took note of the fact that 26 States and Union Territories have already introduced 10+2+3 structure as recommended by the Education Commission 1964-66 and National Policy on, Education, 1968.
The Conference further considered the obligation of the States in regard to elementary education and is of the view that this structure does not in any way run counter to the Directive Principle of the State Policy so long as obligation to provide education free upto the age of 14. (Standard VIII) is recognised and accepted.
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The Conference agreed that the school education should comprise elementary' secondary and higher secondary stages of 12 years' duration.
The undergraduate stage of higher education may be of three years' duration. However, where a State Government so desires it can have a two years Pass and a three years Honours course.
As regards the content of school education the Education Ministers' Conference considered and approved the Ishwarbhai Patel Committee Report except the recommendation relating to the alternative courses in Mathematics and Science. The Conference suggested that this particular recommendation be studied further by the National Council of Educational Research and Training and their views be made available to the State Governments,/Boards of Secondary Education.
The Conference broadly approved the proposals regarding the content of higher secondary education and vocationalisation based on the Report of the Malcolm Adiseshiah Committee and Working Group on Vocationalisation. The Conference remarked on the need to keep in view the availability of employment opportunities in implementing the vocationalisation programme. It stressed the importance of developing proper outlook where these courses are not considered inferior to other courses of study. The Conference also stressed the need to provide bridge courses to enable students to pursue higher education. The Conference emphasised the need to improve the quality of vocational courses especially in the development of the skills and vocational training.
The Conference endorsed the view points expressed in the paper on higher education prepared by the University Grants Commission and placed before the Conference.
III Adult Education The Conference considered the paper on the detailed action to be taken by the State and Central Governments in regard to implementation of the National Adult Education Programme and the recommendations of the Working Group on the subject. The Conference endorsed the general approach and recognising significance of the programme resolved to give the highest priority to it. It also called upon all concerned to make necessary preparations to launch the programme with effect from October 2, 1978. The Conference wanted the disbursement of funds to voluntary agencies to be routed through the State Government.
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IV. Art and Culture The Conference considered broad outlines of the Paper circulated on art and culture and welcomed the proposals outlined in it.
V.Physical Education and Sports The Conference considered broad outlines of the paper on physical education and sports and welcomed the proposals outlined in it.
VI. National Policy on Education The Conference gave its approval for the broad outlines indi- cated in the draft National Policy on Education prepared by the Government of India in the Ministry of Education and Social Welfare. However, the States will give their detailed remarks before the end of July, 1978, to enable the Central Government to proceed further with the finalisation of the Policy.
VII Draft Five Year Plan 1978-83 The Conference took note of the proposals in the field of education in the draft Five Year Plan 1978-83. These will, however, be subject to further discussions between the State and Central Governments and finalisation by the National Development Council.
ACTIVITIES IN COMMON
Budget Estimates Department of Education The total budget provision for 1978-79 and 1979-80 for the Department of Education in the Demands for Grants concerning the Department are as under :
(Rs.in lakhs)
Particulars Budget Revised Budget
1978-79 1978-79 1979-80
1 2 3 4
Demand No. 25
Department of Education:
Secretariat of the Department,
including the Pay and Accounts
Offices, hospitality and enter-
tainment and discretionary
grant of the Education Min-
ister 1,75,87 1,75,87 1,90,89
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1 2 3 4
Demand No. 26
Education:
Provision for general education,
other revenue expenditure
of the Department, including
provisions for grants-in-aid
to States/Union Territories on
Central and Centrally Spon-
sored Plan Schemes and also
provision for loans for cons-
truction of hostels, etc., and
other educational loans for
Central and Centrally Spon-
sored Schemes 2,23,36,51 2,17,74,80 2,26,43,68
TOTAL 2,25,12,38 2,19,50,67 2,28,39,57
Budget Estimates-Department of Culture The budget provisions for 1978-79 and 1979-80 for the Department of Culture are as under :
(Rs. in lakhs.;)
Particulars Budget Revised Budget
1978-79 1978-79 1979-80
Department of Culture
Demand No. 97 10,95,21 10,48,53 11,91,21
Archaeology
Demand No. 98 7,19,95 6,71,43 6,96,48
Total 18,15,16 17,19,96 18,87,69
Audit Observations and Inspection Reports In accordance with the recommendations made by the Public Accounts Committee in its 215th Report on the Action Taken by Government on the Recommendations of the Public Account's Committee contained in their 169th Report (5th Lok Sabha), the Ministry continued its concerted efforts to clear the outstanding audit observations and inspection paras. Instructions were
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issued by Education Secretary to all subordinate formations in the matter of speedy clearance of outstanding audit observations and inspection paras and asked for quarterly progress reports indicating their disposal. As against 4735 audit observations made up to March, 1977 but outstanding on 31st August, 1977 and 4013 inspection paras which were included in the Comptroller and Auditor General's Report for the year 1976-77, the Ministry cleared 2187 audit observations and 1853 inspection paras till 31st March, 1977. Efforts are being continued to clear the remaining outstanding observations and paras.
LIST OF AUDIT OBSERVATIONs FOR THE PERIOD
ENDING 31-3-1977 BUT OUTSTANDING ON 31-8-1977 (According to the Report of the Comptroller and Auditor General of India for the year 1976-77).
AUDIT OBSERVATIONS
S. No. Name of the Accountant General Departments
Education Culture Social
Welfare
1. Andhra Pradesh 15 228
2. Bihar 22 50
3. Central Bombay493524
4. Central Calcutta 33 3
5. Gujarat 39
6. Himachal Pradesh, Chandigarh 52 22
7. Jammu and Kashmir. 18 91
8. Kerala 109 9
9. Karnataka 63 8
10. Madhya Pradesh 26 27
11. Orissa 20 3
12. Rajasthan 5 5
13. Uttar Pradesh 18 16
14. Manipur 1
15. Punjab 1
16. Ass 16. Assam 4
17. Tamil Nadu 274
18. R.A.O. Goa 1
19. A.G.C.R. (TM) 422 961 22
20. A.G.C.R.(GM) 1
21. A.G.C.R. (DAXXI) 736 413
TOTAL 2055 2196 484
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Consolidated Summary
Department of Education 2055
Department of Culture 2196
Department of Social Welfare 484
TOTAL 4735
LIST OF INSPECTION REPORTS PARAS FOR THE
PERIOD ENDING 31-3-77 BUT OUTSTANDING
ON 31-8-1977 (According to the Report of the Comptroller and Auditor General of India for the Year 1976-77).
PARAS
Sl. Name of the Departments
No. Accountant Education Culture Social Welfare
General
Reports Paras Reports Paras Reports Paras
1. Andhra Pradesh 10 25
2. Assam 2 4
3. Central Bombay 1 1 3 3
4. Central Calcutta 16 76 7 28 1 12
5. Bihar 9 22
6. Himachal Pradesh
and Chandigarh 64 363 1 4 5 15
7. Madhya Pradesh 1 2 10 24
8. Orissa 1 2 2 6
9. Kerala 2 5
10. Karnataka 1 3
11. Tamil Nadu 39 87 13 43 1 2
12. Uttar Pradesh 15 28 11 37 1 7
13. Rajasthan 3 11
14. Gujarat 26 68 11 47
15. London 2 5
16. A.G.C.W.M. 9 51 9 84
17. A.G.C.R. New
Delhi 909 2212 52 194 193 542
TOTAL 1098 2936 120 452 212 625
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Consolidated Summary
Reports Paras
1. Department of Education 1098 2936
2. Department of Culture 120 452
3. Department of Social Welfare 212 625
TOTAL 1430 4013
Observance of orders regarding reservation in posts and services
for Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes A special Cell functions in the Ministry to ensure that re- servation orders relating to the appointment of members of Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes in the Departments of Education and Culture are strictly observed. The activities of this Cell are at present carried out in three different units under the supervision of the Deputy Secretary (Administration). The question of rationalising the functioning of this Cell is under examination.
During the year under report, rosters pertaining to the following categories of posts in the Department of Education and Culture (proper) were inspected to verify whether there have been maintained in accordance with the reservation orders issued by Government from time to time :-
(1) General Advisory Cadre.
(2) Technical Advisory Cadre and other Miscellaneous posts.
(3) Grade III posts.
(4) C.S.C.S. Grade I.
(5) Posts filled by promotion to the Grade of Assistant.
(6) Reservation in Promotion in various Grades Class IV/PAs (Grade II).
(7) PAs Grade II (Permanent/Temporary).
(8) Stenographers (Grade III Temporary).
(9) Class III Miscellaneous Posts.
(10) LDCs (Permanent/Temporary).
(11) Class IV posts, and
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(12) Librarian Grade II /Grade III/Grade I/Junior Librarian, Library Attendants (Senior/Junior)/Comp- ilers.
Annual statements concerning the representation of Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes in posts and services received from the Ministry (Proper) and its attached/subordinate offices were scrutinised by the Cell and consolidated material furnished to the Department of Personnel and Administrative Reforms, Government of India.
Action was also initiated to collect up-to-date information in regard to the filling up of the vacancies reserved for Scheduled Caster, and Scheduled Tribes by the members belonging to these communities not only in the subordinate formations of this Ministry but also in the autonomus organisations and educational institutions with which this Ministry is concerned. On receipt of this information, the question of adopting suitable measures to correct the existing deficiencies in filling up the required quota of posts reserved for Scheduled Caste and Scheduled Tribe candidates in different organisations will be considered.
Information was also collected from the different organisations with which this Ministry is concerned in regard to the facilities provided to the students belonging to Scheduled Caste and Scheduled Tribe communities in the matter of admission, scholarships, hostel and other concessions, as desired by the Committee on the Welfare of Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes of the Lok Sabha.
Progressive use of Hindi The Ministry regularly circulates to its officers and the various sections within its control, in addition to its attached and subor- dinate offices, the administrative instructions issued by the Govern- ment regarding the full implementation of the official language policy and the statutory requirements relating to it. The Ministry keeps a regular watch on the progress of all the programmer, in this regard.
Quarterly Progress Reports Progress in 1978-79 was watched and reviewed, inter-alia, through quarterly progress reports obtained from the various Divisions and the attached and subordinate offices under the control of this Ministry. These reports were scrutinised, consolidated and sent to the Ministry of Home Affairs.
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Correspondence in Hindi Under the administrative instructions, letters received in Hindi from individuals as well as from State Governments have been replied to in Hindi.
Noting and Drafting in Hindi According to the bilingual policy, every Central Government employee is free to use Hindi or English for his official work. However, all the officers and staff in the Ministry and its attached and subordinate offices are requested from time to time to encourage their Hindi knowing staff to increase the use of Hindi for their Dotes and simple drafts. About 74 per cent of the staff of the Department has working knowledge of Hindi and Hindi is being partially used in noting and drafting in 39 sections.
Provision of Additional Hindi Typewriters At present 53 Hindi typewriters are available in,the Ministry.
Translation of Statutory Manuals, Forms and Other Procedural
Literature So far, 187 forms and manuals of this Ministry have been translated into Hindi.
Translation of Acts and Statutes The work relating to translation of Acts and Statutes has been completed.
Maintenance of Separate Registers for Letters Received in Hindi All sections in the Ministry maintain separate diary registers for letters received in Hindi and specific entries are made about the replies sent in Hindi. Where replies are not sent in Hindi or are not considered necessary, suitable explanation is given by the Section concerned.
Official Language Implementation Committee Official Language Implementation Committees have been set up in the Ministry and five of its subordinate offices. These
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committees hold quarterly meetings and review the progress of use of Hindi for official purposes at these meetings. The minutes of the meetings are sent to the Ministry of Home Affairs, Department of Official Languages for information. It has not been considered necessary to set up such committees in other subordinate offices, whose total staff strength is very small.
Issue of Bilingual Circulars in Hindi Special care is taken to see that letters received from Hindi- speaking States are invariably replied to in Hindi. Circulars meant for general information are issued bilingually.
Training of Employees in Hindi On a review made recently about the officers and members of the staff who either had Hindi as a subject in their higher secondary examination or had passed Pragya examination conducted by the Ministry of Home Affairs, it was found that approximately 74 % officers and staff belong to these two categories and have a working knowledge of Hindi. Besides, 41 persons were deputed for the various Hindi Teaching Classes. Special care is taken to see that the persons so nominated attend the classes regularly. Special attention is also being paid for the training of employees in Hindi Typewriting and Hindi Stenography. Six persons were deputed for training in Hindi Typewriting and Hindi Stenography.
Workshops Regular workshops are being conducted to impart tarining to, Hindi-knowing employees of this Department in noting and drafting in Hindi.
Setting up of Hindi Advisory Committee A Hindi Salahkar Samiti has been set up for the Ministry of Education and Social Welfare and the Department of Culture under the Chairmanship of Union Education Minister, to advise the Ministry on matters relating to the Progressive use of Hindi for Official purposes. The Committee held its last meeting on 10th December, 1976 and received a report on the action already taken by the Ministry for the Progressive use of Hindi and for ensuring compliance with the provisions of the Official Language Act, 1963, as amended by the Official Language (Amendment) Act, 1967. The Samiti has been reconstituted on 3-11-1978 as, its terms expired in December, 1976.
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Supply of White Printing Paper at Concessional Rate for Production
of text books, Exercise Books and Examinations The scheme for the allocation of white printing paper at concessional rate of Rs. 2750 per tonne ex-mill which was initiated in 1974 was continued during the year under report. Following the decision of the Government to earmark the entire production of white printing paper for the educational sector to meet the increasing demand of paper for textbooks, exercise books and examinations (University and schools boards) and for books and reading material for the adult education programme, the availability of paper for educational purposes has increased from the year 1978-79. As against 1.20 lakh tonnes of this paper available in the previous years it is expected that about 2 lakh tonnes of paper would hereafter be available for the education sector subject to actual production of paper mills.
During the year 1978-79 an allocation of about 1.60 lakh tonnes of paper has been made to the States and Union Territories for the specific education purposes. To ensure proper use of concessional paper and to avoid its possible misuse, the States and Union Territories have been requested to follow the guidelines issued in this regard.
As a result of regular supply of concessional paper to the States and Union Territories, the prices of textbooks have either been reduced or stabilised at the 1973 level. The prices of exercise books which were fixed in January 1976 have remained stationary despite the rising cost of various inputs like raw material, labour and power. It may be pointed out that the lowest price fixed for a 48-page exercise book is 20 paise and the upper price is Rs. 1.30 for a 240-page exercise book.
Import of paper from Norway Under the bilateral agreement entered into between the Government of India and the Government of Kingdom of Norway in 1974, Norway has been supplying paper to India as a commodity assistance. The allocation for this purpose for the year 1978 is five million Norwegian Kroners. This paper is utilised for the production of school textbooks produced by N.C.E.R.T.
The Government of Norway have agreed to supply paper worth ten million Norwegian Kroners for the year 1979. Arrangements for the import of paper worth this amount will be finalised shortly.
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(a) Statistics
(i) Training Course in Educational Statistics A training course in educational statistics was organised at the National Staff College for Educational Planners and Administrators, New Delhi, in collaboration with the Ministry of Education and Social Welfare from May 23 to 29, 1978 for the benefit of Statistical Assistants of the Statistical Units of various State Education Departments. Fifty-three officials, including, a few Statistical Officers from 21 States and the Union Territories of Delhi, Chandigarh and Mizoram and from the Universities of Cochin, Kerala and Kerala Agricultural University attended this course.
(ii) Standing Committe on Educational Statistics The Standing Committee on Educational Statistics, at its third meeting held on September 27, 1978, approved the forms. for the quinquennial collection of statistics on selected items. Besides, the Committee recommended the following :-
(1) formulating crash programme of deputing teams for on-the-spot collection and finalisation of statistics for the years 1976-77 and 1977-78.
(2) setting up a Sub-Group to work out the details of staff requirements of the States with a view to finalising the Centrally sponsored scheme "Assistance for Establishment of Planning, Monitoring and Statistical Galls in the States" for which a provision of Rs. 35 lakhs for the year 1978-79 was agreed to by the Planning Commission and included in the Ministry of Education Budget.
(3) setting up of a Sub-Group to decide the methodology to be adopted for theme-oriented studies and selection of topics for periodical collection of the data.
(iii) Unesco sponsored National Training Seminar on Method
for Project School Enrolment The Ministry of Education and Social Welfare participated in the UNESCO sponsored National Training Seminar on Methods for Projecting School Enrolment organised by National Staff College for heads of Educational Statistical Services of all States, and Union Territories from November 20, to December 1, 1978.
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One person each was deputed by the Department of Education and Department of Culture. Besides, three officers of the Planning, Monitoring and Statistics Division of the Department of Education acted as resource personnel and contributed the following papers at the seminar :-
1. Educational Statistics in India.
2. Use of Projection Techniques for Estimating non-response in Educational Statistics.
3. Wastage and Stagnation by sex and grade in Primary and Middle level Education in India.
(iv) Publications The following publications were brought out during the year 1978- 79 :-
1. Pay Scales of School Teachers in India-1976- 77
2. Progress of Education of Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes-1972-73 ;
3. Expenditure on Education as shown in Central and State Annual Budgets-1975-76 to 1977-78 ;
4. Selected Information on School Education in India 1976-77;
5. Progress of Education of Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes-1974-75;
6. Educational Statistics-District-wise-1976-77, Vol. II-Tripura;
7. Educational Statistics-District-wise-1976-77, Vol. (I)-Pondicherry;
8. A Study of Administrative set-up in States for educational programmes of Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes;
9. An intensive Study of Elementary Education in Four Blocks of Chamba District of Himachal Pradesh;
10. Selected Educational Statistics-1977-78.
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(b) Planning and Monitoring Preparation of Central Annual Plan of Education for the year 1979-80 was undertaken. A Central Plan of Rs. 90.50 crores for 1979- 80 was agreed to by the Planning Commission. Working Group meetings to discuss State Annual Plans were held under the Chairmanship of Education Secretary in the Ministry. The reports of the Working Group have been presented to the Planning Commission.
Physical and financial targets in respect of State Plan pro- grammes were collected and progress in various sectors analysed.
Necessary guidelines were issued to the State Governments for preparing educational programmes for the development of Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes. The integrated Tribal Development Projects received from the State Governments were evaluated and the Ministry's comments were forwarded to the Ministry of Home Affairs for consideration in the Sub-Committee set-up under Central Coordination Committee.
A Study on the Administrative set-up in States for educational programmes of Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes was undertaken by the Ministry. The Study was conducted in the States of Andhra Pradesh, Assam, Bihar, Jammu and Kashmir, Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra, Orissa, Punjab, Tamil Nadu, Tripura and Uttar Pradesh and the study report brought out. It was forwarded to the Chief Ministers by Education Minister and to the Chief Secretaries by Education Secretary. A departmental study of the recommendation of Planning Commission regarding allocation of funds for various sections of education in 1978-79 annual plan and the actual budget allocations by the State was prepared and sent to the States.
Publications The Publication Unit during the year 1978-79 up to December, 1978 brought out 31 titles in English including 1 bilingual (English and Hindi) and two quarterly journals, viz. `The Education Quarterly' and `Indian Education Abstracts'. The Education Quarterly entered its 30th year and the `Indian Education Abstracts' its 23rd year of publication.
The Unit organised the `Second Travelling Photo Exhibition' sponsored by the Asian Cultural Centre for Unesco, Tokyo at Lalit Kala Akademi Galleries, New Delhi from November 19-24,
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1978 and at Goa from 8-12-78 to 14-12-78. It also participated in the 9th National Book Fair held at Bangalore from 29-12-78 to 7-1-79.
The Hindi Publication Unit brought out during the same period 17 titles including 2 quarterly journals `Shiksha Vivechan' and `Sanskriti'.
Students Information Service Unit The Students Information Service Unit collects, compiles and disseminates information on higher education in India and abroad for the benefit of the students and attends to their enquiries on various subject-fields.
During the year under report, it attended to approximately 5142 enquiries related to facilities for higher education in India and abroad. Nearly 2261 persons visited the Reference Library attached to this Unit to consult the calendars, handbooks, prospectuses and other bulletins of information on various courses offered by Indian/foreign universities/institutions. 1046 additions were made to the Reference Library of the Unit by way of latest calendars, prospectuses, and other relevant literature acquired from several Universities/ Institutions.
About 19 compilations on different topics/subjects on higher education were brought out and revised during the year under report. The publication "General Information for Indian Students Going Abroad- 1977" has been revised and published