INTRODUCTION
During the current year, all-round progress in the various fields of education has been maintained and a few significant new developments have occurred.
A Commission on Secondary Education has been appointed to investigate the whole question of secondary education in India, and to make suitable recommendations for its improvement. The Commission has already started work, and its report is likely to be made available in June, 1953.
As part of the Five-Year Educational Development Plan a provision of one crore of rupees was made during the year 1952-53, with the object of implementing some of the recommendations of the Planning Commission in the field of basic and social education. The recommendations include a scheme for the development of pilot projects in basic education in selected areas in different States. It is designed to evolve sound techniques of basic and social education from the primary to the postgraduate (training) level. Under the Plan, grants are also being made to State Governments for the establishment, or development of various institutions, in accordance with an approved and integrated pattern in each State. It is hoped that during the year 1953-54, it will be possible to enforce this scheme more fully and to include others suggested in the final report of the Planning Commission. A sum of two crores of rupees has been provided in next year's budget, out of which Rs. 1,25,000 are earmarked for strengthening the Ministry's staff for planning, executing and supervising these schemes.
A training course for the production of films, filmstrips, pictures, charts and literature for neo-literates was arranged this year by Unesco in association with the Ministry of Education.
In the field of higher education, the Government of India have decided to set up a University Grants Commission to' advise on the allocation of grants-in-aid from public funds to (1) the Central Universities, (2) other Universities and institutions of higher learning whose case for such grants may be referred to the Commission by the Government, and (3) to advise universities and other institutions of higher learning in respect of any question referred by the Government to the Commission.
The Government of India have under consideration suitable steps for coordinating standards of higher education in the country, in order to fulfil the responsibility imposed upon them by the Constitution. The exact form in which this co-ordination will be achieved is under consideration in the light of views expressed by State Governments and universities.
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There has been a considerable increase in the amount of research work done at the Central Institute of Education during the year under review. The major project has been the preparation and standardisation of an individual scale of intelligence in Hindi. Another project is the construction of group intelligence tests in Hindi. The Institute, which is now on a permanent footing, has published short reports of research studies by M.Ed. students, and is making the results of these studies available to educationists and research workers.
The All India Council for Technical Education appointed this year a seven-man committee to present to the Planning Commission a Five- Year Plan of development of technical education and training. A joint meeting of this Committee and the Planning Commission was held on the 15th May, 1952. The plan prepared by the Committee provided for the development of facilities for technical education, training and research.
In the Report submitted last year it was stated that 210 students were admitted to the Institute of Technology, Kharagpur, during 1951- 52. The number this year is nearly 700, and next year it is expected to reach nearly 1,000. Besides the usual admission to the undergraduate courses in Engineering, this year students have been admitted to courses in Architecture, Agricultural Engineering, Naval Architecture, Production Engineering, and Combustion Engineering.
The Institute has also made provision for Residential Management Studies, the first course of its kind in Asia.
In co-operation with the Indian National Commission for Co- operation with Unesco, the Ministry held a Seminar to study the contribution of the Gandhian outlook and techniques to the solution of tensions between and within nations, at New Delhi, in January, 1953. Eminent thinkers from East and West participated in the Seminar, that has made important recommendations for the solution of national and international tensions based on the teachings of Mahatma Gandhi.
A sum of Rs. 17.5 lakhs was provided in the budget for 1952-53 for Scholarships for Scheduled Castes, Scheduled Tribes and other Backward Classes. This amount was found inadequate and it was necessary to increase the funds for this purpose. Additional funds amounting to Rs. 12.5 lakhs have, therefore, been made available to increase the provision for 1952-53 to Rs, 30 lakhs.
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In the realm of art and culture, the Sangeet Natak Akadami (National Academy for Dance, Drama and Music) was established. It was inaugurated by the President on the 28th January, 1953. The Ministry sent an Art Exhibition to the U.S.A. under the scheme of Cultural Relationships with Foreign Countries, and the one which was sent to China/Japan has been diverted to Australia.
The Central Bureau of Education has maintained and expanded its information and publications activities. The Publications Branch of the Ministry has brought out a large number of new publications, the chief of which are: "The Central Bureau of Education", "Teachers' Handbook of Social Education", "Writing Books for Adults-Literature for Neo-Literates", "Scholarships for Scheduled Castes, Scheduled Tribes and other Backward Classes".
The scope of 'The Education Quarterly', the Ministry's most important Periodical, has been considerably expanded and it has now entered its fifth year of publication and is beginning to play an effective part in improving educational thinking and techniques. Eleven statistical publications were produced during the year. These include:--"Education in India-A Graphic Presentation", which depicts various aspects of education in India in coloured charts, and a brochure on "Scales of Pay of Primary and Secondary School Teachers in States in India 1950-51".
Hindi classes for Government servants have been started by the Ministry of Education. There are three part-time teachers at present, and 300 students on the rolls. Prizes worth Rs. 29,000/- have been announced for award to authors of the best books in Hindi including both original works and translations. Translation work relating to technical terms in Hindi up to the high school standard in mathematics, physics, the social sciences, botany, civics, history, geography and chemistry has been completed.
Periodical conferences on the teaching of various subjects in universities are being convened, from time to time in order to stimulate co-operative thinking on various important issues amongst university teachers. A Conference of teachers of Philosophy and Psychology was held in 1952, and two conferences, one on the teaching of Hindi, and the other on the teaching of English in universities- were convened in January,'1953,
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DEMAND No. 17.
NATIONAL ARCHIVES OF INDIA. An allotment of Rs. 6,98,900 was placed at the disposal of this Department for 1952-53. In spite of economy there has been substantial progress in the various activities of the Department.
Acquisition of Records The acquisition of records continued, and a large number of records of the defunct British Residencies was received. Microfilm copies of manuscripts of Indian interest were acquired from repositories in foreign countries. Special mention may be made here of 53 reels of microfilm covering 91,500 manuscript pages of the Dutch East India Company's records from 1677-1693. Further, this Department has sought to purchase historical manuscripts and documents from their owners, who were not in a position either to preserve or to maintain them. A collection of manuscripts of Mrs. Sarojini Naidu was purchased during the year. Progress was made in the task of arranging, checking and listing records.
Research Facilities 153 research scholars conducted research among the records and 11,558 pages of excerpts taken by them were released. Enquiries of a historical nature were attended to; documents were lent for display At historical exhibitions.
Publications One volume of the Fort William-India House correspondence was sent to press, and two more volumes have been finalised for press. Two issues of the "Indian Archives" were printed, and a third sent to press. The compilation of two volumes of the Calendar of Persian Correspondence was undertaken. 250,000 pages of documents were microfilmed. Photo-duplication services were widely utilised by foreign and Indian scholars. Selected papers and paintings of the exhibits at the Hyderabad Art,Archaeology and Handicraft Exhibition held at New Delhi, were' microfilmed for the use of this Department. Special short-term courses of training on the preservation of records were continued., and there was a wide demand for such training. The full course of one year's training in Archives-Keeping is being continued.
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Programme for 1953-54 The programme for obtaining from abroad the transcripts of manuscripts and rare books will be intensified. It is proposed to start a scheme of writing monographs on the study of records; and budget provision has been accepted for a scheme of six Fellowships on an all-india basis. Necessary budget provision has been made for the setting up of a Map Section (under a Map Officer) in which thousands of maps from the Surveyor-General of India will be housed.
As regards the publications programme, two volumes of Fort William-India House Correspondence will be sent to press. Four more volumes are planned. Two issues of "Indian Archives" will be published. The publication of one volume, and compilation of three more volumes of the Calendar of Persian Correspondence has been, and is being, undertaken. A volume of Index to the Foreign Department records will be sent to press.
It has been proposed to have daily educative exhibitions in this Department on the lines organised in the British Museum, at which officials will explain to the public the nature, kind and importance of archives.
It is proposed to introduce a new section from the next financial year, to give research scholars necessary advice in the choice of subjects, particularly in matters relating to research in Modern Indian History. Budget provision has already been 'accepted in this matter.
SECRETARIAT The provision tinder this sub-head is made for the pay and other expenditure incurred on staff employed in the Ministry of Education. Two additional Gazetted posts of Assistant Education Officer (Technical) for Examinations and Section Officer have been created to cope with the growing work in the Ministry.
One post of Joint Educational Adviser has been converted into that of Additional Secretary.
Education Department, Washington A provision of Rs. 3,50,700 was made in the budget for the year 1952-53 for the Education Department, Washington.
Basic and Social Education Lump provision has been made for the implementation of the recommendations of the Planning Commission regarding basic and social education.
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In connection with the implementation of certain educational schemes under the Five-Year Plan, a few additional posts for Gazetted staff have been created.
PRESENTATION OF BOOKS TO FOREIGN INSTITUTIONS. A provision of Rs. 10,000/- exists during the current year for presentation of books to universities and institutions abroad with the object of cultivating international understanding and goodwill. These books generally relate to Indian history, culture, religion, philosophy, art and architecture. The following countries have so far been presented with books worth about Rs. 6,000:-
1. Argentina.
2. British West Indies.
3. Iran.
4. Mauritius.
5. New Zealand.
6. Norway.
7. Scandinavia.
About Rs. 4,000/- remain, which will be utilised for the presentation of books to a few more countries.
Provision amounting to Rs. 5,000/- has also been made in the budget for 1953-54 for a similar purpose.
INDIAN NATIONAL COMMISSION A sum of Rs. 1,70,000 is provided for 1953-54 for the im- plementation of Unesco's programme in India and for the work of the Indian National Commission.
Under the new constitution this year the Indian National Commission will have three Sub-Commissions, one each for Education, Science and Culture. Besides the members of the Commission, there will be associate-members representing voluntary educational, scientific and cultural organisations of an all-India character working in the fields of Unesco. The affairs of the Commission will be managed by an Executive Board which shall consist of 11 members. The Educational Adviser to the Government of India, Ministry of Education, will be the Chairman of the Executive Board and will preside over its meetings. The Ministry of Education at present provides the secretariat service and finances for all matters connected with Unesco and the Indian National Commission. It is pro- posed, however, to have a separate nucleus staff which will work as a Secretariat for the Commission.
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During the period under review, a Committee on the improvement of history text-books and teaching materials appointed by the Commission met and scrutinised Indian history textbooks, and formulated certain principles and directives for the guidance of authors and teachers. It has recommended to State Governments to hold seminars of history teachers on a linguistic or regional basis, to study methods of creating better national and international understanding amongst students. The State Governments have been requested to implement the various recommendations of the Committee and their response has been encouraging.
The Ministry of Education, in co-operation with the Indian National Commission, convened a seminar at New Delhi to study the contribution of Gandhian outlook and techniques to the solution of tensions between and within nations. Eminent thinkers from East and West participated in the seminar which was held from 5th January to 17th January, 1953. The Seminar has made important recommendations for the solution of the national and international tensions, based on the teachings of Gandhiji.
Unesco, Regional Conference on Free and Compulsory Education in
South Asia and the Pacific In accordance with the recommendations of the 14th International Conference on Public Education held at Geneva, in 1951, Unesco decided to organise a Regional Conference on Free and Compulsory Education in South Asia and the Pacific. This Conference was held at Bombay at the invitation of the Government of India and with the active co-operation of the Government of Bombay, from 12th to 23rd December, 1952. Most of the South Asian and Pacific countries participated in it. The Conference discussed the problems of free and compulsory education in the participating States with special reference to the question of planning educational schemes, factors hindering the implementation of those schemes and possibilities of international assistance in this field.
Seminar on the Status of Women in South Asia A Seminar on the Status of Women in South Asia was organised by the South Asian Science Co-operation Office of Unesco and was held at Delhi from 28th December, 1952, to 3rd January, 1953. The Seminar considered the political, economic. and social status of women in this region,
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Unesco Regional Conference of National Commissions The Unesco Regional Conference of National Commissions was held at Bangkok in August-September, 1952, at which the Government of India was represented. The Conference considered ways and means of popularising Unesco in this region, and also recommended a reorientation of Unesco's programme so as to serve the needs of the region better.
Youth Movements The Indian National Commission has been taking a keen interest in the activities of students interested in the United Nations and Unesco. Financial assistance was given to the United Nations Students Federation to bold a Convention representing students from various countries in Asia in December, 1952, at New Delhi.
Popularisation of Unesco The Indian National Commission has, amongst its functions, the popularisation of Unesco among the masses. The Commission has taken steps to give suitable publicity to the programme of the Organisation with special reference to what it has done for India. Literature received from Unesco is supplied to institutions interested in Unesco's work and to Unesco clubs established in various universities. The Commission has also provided albums and filmstrips to State Governments and to educational and scientific institutions in connection with the celebration of Human Rights Day.
Unesco Coupons The Government of India are participating in the Unesco Coupon Scheme from 1948. Under this scheme coupons are available for purchase of books, scientific materials and educational and scientific films from various countries. The scheme has enabled universities, research institutions, and laboratories to obtain their material from other countries by making payment in their national currencies. The Government of India has been one of the largest buyers of these coupons. So far, India has received from Unesco coupons worth $260,000 for scientific material and $20,000 for films and $185,000 for books.