15.44. Teacher Training:

There are two teacher training centres, one in Pondicherry and the other in Karaikal. Students passing out of these centres are appointed as teachers in the primary schools. The centres were reorganised during the year on the pattern obtaining in Tamilnadu.

15.45. Special Facilities for Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes and Other Backward Classes:

The educational facilities in the Territory are benefitting the scheduled caste and backward class students as well. Besides the merit scholarships awarded by the Education Department, scholarships exclusively for scheduled caste students are also awarded by the State Harijan Welfare Department.

15.46. Adult Literacy:

During the year, four adult literacy centres were opened. Besides, other agencies like Block Development Department, Harijan Welfare Department and the Social Welfare Advisory Board have been running adult schools in the Territory.

J: TRIPURA

15.47. Educational Facilities:

During the year there were 364 pre-primary (including balwadi) centres, 1,395 lower primary schools, 202 higher primary schools, 82 high/higher secondary schools, 5 general degree colleges with a post-graduate wing in one college, 1 degree college in engineering,1 polytechnic, 1 music college, 51 Sanskrit tols, Madrasas and Muktabs and 6 teacher training colleges.

15.48. Education of Girls and Women:

Special facilities for girls' education are provided in the Territory which at present has one degree college, eleven higher secondary schools and three senior Basic schools exclusively for girls, while in other schools and colleges, co-education is followed. Girls' education is free up to the secondary stage, and for scheduled tribe and scheduled caste girls, it is free up to the collegiate stage. Facilities are also available to allow special stipends for such girl

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students at the collegiate stage as have passed the higher secondary or pre-university examination at least in the second division. Scheduled caste and scheduled tribe girls in classes III-VIII are given free dresses. Besides a few more schemes like attendance scholarships for girls in classes II-V, free school dress for poor girls in classes III-VIII and quarters for women teachers in rural and backward areas were in the process of being implemented

15.49. Scholarships and Other Concessions: Textbooks are provided free to scheduled caste and scheduled tribe girl students. Book grants are given to students in indigent circumstances. Free textbooks worth Rs. 15,000 were distributed among scheduled caste and scheduled tribe students in classes I and II. Children of balwadi centres and primary schools in selected centres were provided with mid-day meals. Other special facilities provided to scheduled caste/scheduled tribe and other backward class students relate to reservation of seats at the collegiate level, exemption from payments of tuition and examination fee, book grants, free dresses, hostel facilities, boarding house stipends and scholarships for higher studies.

15.50. Adult Literacy:

During the year , 417 social educa- tion/adult literacy centres functioned with an enrolment of 10.`176 students. A few more schemes like the starting of 40 literacy centres, 1 adult school, 2 reading-cum-information centres and 10 social education centres and organising condensed courses for adult neo-literate women were in the process of implementation.