 II-
ACTIVITIES OF THE CENTRAL
 INSTITUTIONS OF EDUCATION-1960-61

The following are the Central institutions or agencies of education under the administrative control of the Ministry of Education:-

(1) The Central Institute of Education, Delhi (established in 1947)

(2) The Central Bureau of Textbook Research, Delhi (established in 1954)

(3) The Central Bureau of Educational and Vocational Guidance, Delhi (established in 1954)

(4) The National Institute of Basic Education, New Delhi (established in 1956)

(5) The National Fundamental Education Centre. New Delhi (established in 1956)

(6) The Central Institute of English, Hyderabad (established in 1958) and

(7) The National Institute of Audio-Visual Education. New Delhi (established in 1959)

Brief notes on the activities of these institutions during 1960- 61 and their programmes of development for 1961-62 are given in the paragraphs that follow.

1. Central Institute of Education, Delhi.

-The Central Institute of Education, Delhi was set up in 1947 to be a premier centre of training as well as research in professional education. It has also a nursery and a Basic school attached to it for experimentation purposes. It provided training for B. Ed., M.Ed., and A.D. The institution has also, attached to it, an Extension Services Centre for the in-service 'training programme for Secondary school teachers. Its Basic institution provides training in arts and crafts and the school has also a community centre working in it. Apart from the normal training courses, the Institute runs short term courses and conducts seminars in various subjects. For acquainting the selected administrators in the problems connected with the introduction of compulsory Primary education in the States, an all-India seminar was held for 20 days during January-February, 1961. A number of research projects were taken in hand. These included a study of socioeconomic background of (i) bright children, (ii) an analysis of

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Hindi Readers for classes II to XI, (iii) a study of habits of bright and dull children, group tests of intelligence, achievement tests etc. Proposals have been framed for a number of new projects which are under consideration. The proposals include study of truancy in selected boys, promotion of creative writing attitude of Higher Secondary school children towards English etc. A number of research projects have a so been taken in hand by the Basic school. These include a study of the use of toys in the teaching of the mother tongue, development of social and civic attitudes through social studies curriculum etc.

During the period under review, the Central Institute of Education had with them the services of U.S. technicians available under the T C.M. Programme. The budget provision for 1960-61 was Rs. 4,04,000 and the revised estimates amount to Rs. 5,80,000. The increase is due to the merger of the two Bureaux namely, the Central Bureau of Textbook Research, and the Central Bureau of Educational and Vocational Guidance with the Central Institute of Education and also to further expansion of activities. The budget estimates for 1961-62 provide for a provision of Rs. 6,72,000. It is proposed to develop the Institute into an outstanding centre of research in professional education in the country. Proposals are under consideration for the provision of a sum of Rs. 65 lakhs during the Third Five-Year Plan for the expansion and development of the activities of the Institute. It would lead to the development of additional departments, e.g., Department of Educational Administration, Department of Social and Philosophical Foundations, etc.

II. Central Bureau of Textbook Research.

-Training facilities were afforded to a few students in the field of textbooks and curriculum construction. Analysis sheets for objective data in history and language, textbooks of Primary schools were published. The Bureau prepared a book entitled, "Hints to Authors of Science and Social Studies Textbooks", and a lesson plan in social studies on the life and teaching of Gautama Buddha for class V. Exercises were prepared for lessons regarding United Nations Children Fund, World Health Organisation, etc. Research' was conducted in the standardisation of Hindi vocabulary for grades: I to VIII. The project of interpretation of data collected through detailed analysis of a hundred and odd geography textbooks for Primary grades, both Indian and foreign, and other projects were taken up.

III. Central Bureau of Educational and Vocational Guidance.-

The Bureau arranged a number of talks relating to educational and vocational guidance counselling in various fields. During the current year the Bureau is conducting a training programme consisting of a ninemonth diploma course in guidance for candidates from various States all over the country. The course started on July 1, 1960. A seminar on occupational information in the guidance programme was also

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organised. In the area of research, a study of factors affecting curricular choice among pupils of the delta class has been undertaken. A project for developing techniques for the selection of counselling trainees has also been taken in hand. The work of collecting, classifying and filling information material received from various institutions in the country was continued. A study of employment trends as revealed through newspaper advertisements was undertaken. An all-India conference of the heads of Government Bureaux of Guidance in the country was held in August 1960, and, among other decisions, the most important decision related to the progressive introduction, according to a phased programme, of guidance services in all the High/Higher Secondary schools during the Third Five-Year Plan.

The two Bureaux namely, the Central Bureau of Textbook Research and the Central Bureau of Educational and Vocational Guidance were set up in 1953-54 to be centres of research and assistance in their res- pective fields and were functioning till October 31, 1960, as part of the Ministry itself. In pursuance, however, of the recommendations made from time to time, the two Bureaux have been merged with effect from November 1, 1960, with the Central Institute of Education in order to develop the Institute into a centre of research in national professional education.

IV. National Institute of Basic Education, New Delhi.

-The Institute conducts a number of activities for the development of Basic education and these include research, training, production of literature, improving current practices in Basic schools, and studies and investigations in arts and crafts.

(a) Research.

-During the year under review, the following research projects were completed:-

(i) Relative Costliness of Education in Basic and non- Basic schools (Pilot study for Delhi);

(ii) Analysis and Evaluation of some Integrated Syllabi; (iii) Basic Education Abstracts No. I and II of 1959 and No. 1 of 1960 were completed;

(iv) Topics of Research: The, suggestions on topics of research work as received from the various Directors of Education and Principals of postgraduate Basic training colleges, were analysed. A classified list of these topics was prepared.

Work on other research projects is in, progress. These include (i) analysis and evaluation of langauge Readers for classes I and II of Basic schools of Hindi speaking States; (ii) ensuring standards of achievement in Basic schools (iii) standardisation of a check-list for evaluation of

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Basic schools; (iv) a study and evaluation of correlated lesson plans prepared by Basic training institutions; and (v) a national survey of abilities and attainments of Basic school children.

The work of research in the Institute has received an impetus with the arrival of Dr. Stephen M. Corey of the U.S.A. who joined it as T.C.M. expert in educational research.

(b) Training.

-The following programmes were organised during the year under review:-

(i) Conference of Model Basic Schools of Delhi.-At the request of Delhi Municipal Corporation, a conference of the head- masters and inspecting officers of the model Basic schools of Delhi was organised in the Institute from 21st to 27th September, 1960;

(ii) Workshop for the Improvement of Teacher Education in PostGraduate Basic Training Colleges.-The Institute organised a workshop of the principals of the postgraduate Basic training colleges on the improvement of teacher education from 15th December, 1960 to 3rd January, 1961.

The Institute proposes to organise a training course for crafts and necessary correspondence has been initiated for this.

(c) Production of Literature.

-The publications brought out during the period under report will be found in Annexure XIII.

In addition to the titles listed therein, a number of other manuscripts of the Institute are either in the press or are being finalised.

(d) Improving Current Practices in Basic Schools.

-After consultation and discussion with the officials of the Education Department of Delhi Municipal Corporation, the Senior Basic School, Chhattarpur, was selected for its improvement. A two-week workshop of the staff of the school and the concerned supervisory staff of the Corporation was organised in the Institute with a view to devising the plan of the work for the academic session 1960-61. A pamphlet on 'Self Improvement of Basic Schools is contemplated to be prepared on the basis of experience gained from this school.

(e) Studies and Investigations in Arts and Crafts.

-A Unesco, expert in Arts and Crafts, Shri Musaji Takaki of Japan, joined the Institute early this year. Under his guidance, the Institute has started experiments in the crafts of bamboo, clay modelling, pottery and doll-making. It is also proposed to start short term training courses for the teaching of crafts which could be attended to by craft instructors from different States. Preliminary correspondence towards this end, has been initiated.

V. National Fundamental Education Centre, New Delhi.

-The National Fundamental Education Centre was established in 1956 with

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the primary object of conducting research, training high level personnel and for serving as a clearing house of ideas and, information in Social education. During the last five years, it has conducted training curses for five batches of District Social Education Officers and in all, 81 officers have been trained.

Almost the whole of the equipment which the Centre was to receive from the T.C.M. has been received. The total value of the equipment received so far is $ 22,415.29. A Fellowship for nine months under the T.C.M. Aid Programme was awarded to Shri H. P. Saksena, Assistant Director of the Centre.

During the period under review, the Centre took up a number of activities through its various organs, i.e., Library, Audio-Visual Unit, Home Science Unit, etc. Particular mention may be made of the following activities:-

(i) The Centre prepared bibliographies on topics connected with Social education.

(ii) It completed the project on 'Village Meeting Places and Community Centres'. Besides a number of projects on topics relating to reading, habits and interests of village people, attitudes of illiterate adults towards literacy and village superstitions and taboos are in hand.

(iii) (a) A 'tele-club' at the Centre has been reviewing the television programmes regularly.

(b) A film on 'Social Education for Community Action' has also been prepared.

During 1961-62, the Centre will, conduct two courses, each of five months' duration, for District Social Education Officers. The clearing house activities of the Centre are also proposed to be expanded. The two research projects now in hand, viz., 'Village Meeting Places and Community Centres in Mehrauli Block' and 'Reading Interests and Habits of Village People' will be completed and work on two other projects, viz., 'Survey of Living Conditions of Children in Mehrauli Block' and 'Impact of Television Programmes' will be continued, and, if possible, completed. It may also be possible to take up one or two new research projects.

VI. Central Institute of English, Hyderabad.

The Institute established with the cooperation of the British i h Council and the Ford Foundation for the improvement of the standards of English in the country, started functioning on 17th November, 1958. It has been registered as a society under the Societies Registration Act, 1860 and its affairs are managed by a Board of Governors. The activities of the Institute are two-fold, namely, (1) research, and (2) teaching the lecturers of training colleges.

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pre-university classes and teachers of Higher Secondary schools the latest techniques of teaching English.

A total expenditure of Rs. 4,00,000 is likely to be incurred on the Institute during 1960-61. For the next year, a provision of Rs. 10,40,000 has been proposed. This includes a provision of Rs. 5,00,000 on the construction of a permanent building of the Institute. The Institute is at present housed temporarily in buildings placed at its disposal by the Osmania University. The building is estimated to cost Rs. 10 lakhs and the balance of Rs. 5 lakhs is expected to be spent during 1962-63.

VII. National Institute of Audio-Visual Education, New Delhi.

-The National Institute of Audio-Visual Education established in January, 1959, functions as a training, production and research centre, and as a clearing house for information relating to audio- visual education. It has already completed five short term training courses (including two held for the coordinators of the Extension Services Department of Training Colleges) apart from a number of seminars for social and allied organisations. The Central Film Library has a membership of 1427 institutions, and lent out, free of charge, 9,572 films and 178 filmstrips to educational institutions during the period January-December, 1960. A quarterly journal "Audio- Visual Education" is being published to foster interest in the use of audio-visual techniques among teachers and social education workers. To popularise the journal and to make it more useful a Hindi Section has also been introduced to cater to the needs of Hindi-knowing teachers. The production of prototype instructional material has also been undertaken. The budget provision for 1960-61 is Rs. 6.08 lakhs (Revised Estimates-Rs. 4.20 lakhs) and that for 1961-62 is Rs. 5.50 lakhs.)

II- ACTIVITIES OF THE CENTRAL INSTITUTIONS OF EDUCATION-1960-61