(C) Science Talent Search

: To locate science talent at all early age pilot scheme of Science Talent Search was prepared for being tried out in Delhi.

(D) Popularisation of Science

: Assistance was given to 113 secondary schools for establishing new science clubs and to 540 secondary schools, for maintenance of their existing clubs. In addition, 43 teacher training colleges were helped to set up central science clubs. Pertinent literature on equipment and activities of science clubs and a brochure on science projects were prepared and distributed among these schools and colleges. Fifty-six extension services centres were paid Rs. 700 each to enable them to organise science fairs and science days. A grant-in-aid of Rs. 4,000 was given to the All India Science Teachers' Association for its activities to promote science education.

(E) Seminars and Workshops

: A seminar of leading scientists and science-educators was convened to prepare the syllabus for science teaching in the Regional Colleges of Education. Six seminars were organised on revising the general science syllabus for classes I to VIII and for preparing for them a standard general science syllabus.

(F) Publications

: The publications brought out by the Department are indicated in Annexure II.

7.10 CENTRAL BUREAU OF TEXTBOOK RESEARCH

(A) Textbook and Curriculum

: A major assignment completed during the period relates to preparing textbooks on social studies for classes I to V of Punjab schools. A survey of the textbook procedures in the States was completed and a report has been prepared which is under print. A Primer-cum-Reader I for Tibetan Children containing 30 lessons, was completed in collaboration with a Tibetan scholar.

(B) Seminars

: An all-India seminar for the comparative study of the syllabi in Mathematics was held in September, 1962. The syllabuses for primary and middle classes of different States were studied from the point of view of duration, organisation, and integration of mathematical process. Another all-India seminar for the analysis of existing syllabuses in geography and preparing a draft syllabus for higher secondary classes was held in December, 1962.

(C) Publications

: The publications brought out by the Bureau during the period are indicated in Annexure II. The Bureau has started work on the designing of two major projects: one on reading and the other on the concept of social studies in the school curriculum.

7.11 REGIONAL COLLEGES OF EDUCATION

To meet the needs of different regions in the country for trained teachers for multipurpose schools, the Council, in cooperation with the Governments of Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh, Orissa, and Mysore, is establishing four Regional Colleges of Education at Ajmer, Bhopal, Bhubaneshwar, and Mysore. The sites for these colleges were selected and their building programmes were in various stages of execution. The courses of training have been prepared and the colleges will start functioning from next year.