New York Herald Tribune Forum As in the previous years, at the invitation of the sponsors of the Forum, Shri Bimal Prashad Jain, a student of 1st Year Pre-Medical course, Hindu College, Delhi, has been selected through a written test conducted with the help of State Governments and Universities and a final test and interview. The Forum is scheduled to be held from January to, March, 1960.
A provision of Rs. 500 was made to meet the travelling expenses of the candidates selected for the final test and interview during 1959-60. A similar, provision has been made for 1960-61.
Educational Delegations to and from India This item was transferred to the Ministry of Education from the Ministry of Scientific Research and Cultural Affairs with effect from 1st April, 1959. For the financial year 1959-60, a provision of Rs. 75,000 was made for this purpose. Under this scheme a students' delegation from Nepal consisting of 15 members came on a visit to important places in India for about a month and for attending the sixth Inter-University Youth Festival at Mysore.
Another 12-member student/teacher delegation is also expected to come from Sikkim on a two and a half weeks tour in January 1960.
An unofficial Delegation of 30 Indian Teachers from Natal was also on a visit to India, Ceylon and Pakistan. This tour coincides with the centenary of the emigration of Indians to Natal. Arrangement during the period of their stay in Delhi were made by the Ministry of Education. They visited places of historical and educational importance. For the financial year 1960-61 a provision of Rs. 60,000 has been made.
31
Promotion of Inter-State Understanding In implementation of a Central Government Scheme under the second Five-Year Plan for the promotion of Inter-State Understanding amongst students at Secondary School level, copies of the brochure entitled 'Guide to West Bengal and Assam' and 'Guide to South India' are being supplied to State Governments for distribution to High/Higher Secondary School students in their territories. A rally of about 100 selected secondary school students from all over India was held in Delhi on the occasion of Republic Day Celebrations in January, 1960. The object is to bring students from different parts of the country together and to develop amongst them and through them, amongst the student community in general, a proper understanding and sense of fellowship. A provision of Rs. 26,000 has been made for this Scheme during 1959-60 and of Rs. 30,000 during 1960-61.
Gandhian Philosophy Copies of the book entitled "All Men Are Brothers" which contains extracts of what Gandhiji said and wrote would be distributed to all the High/Higher Secondary Schools in India. Arrangements have been made in U.P. for lectures on Gandhiji's teachings. The programme will be pursued with other State Governments also. Arrangements are being made for lectures in Colleges and Universities by eminent persons, who were associated with Gandhiji.
The expenditure during the current year is expected to be Rs. 36,500. A provision of Rs. 15,000 has been made for the next year.
N.C.C. Units in Public Schools It was considered that expenditure on N.C.C. Units in Public Schools during 1959-60 should be met by the State, Governments, but the State Governments have regretted their inability to meet this charge, and a sanction for a sum. of Rs. 78,000 has been issued as Ministry of Education's share of the total expenditure for 1959-60.
A Budget Provision of Rs. 90,000 for this purpose has been made for 1960-61.
Banasthali Vidyapeeth A sum of Rs. 35,000 was sanctioned on 19th March 1959 as an ad hoc grant to the Banasthali Vidyapeeth, Jaipur for the year 1958-59.
A provision of Rs. 35,000 exists for 1959-60 and budget provision for an equal amount has been made for the year 1960-61.
32
Grants-in-aid to Anglo-Indian Institutions A sum of Rs. 4,282 has been sanctioned to the Inter-State Board for Anglo-Indian Education, New Delhi, for the year 1958-59 and a sum of Rs. 4,300 has been provided for the grant for 1959-60.
A grant of Rs. 8,100 has been sanctioned to Dr. Grahams' Home, Kalimpong, for 1958-59.
A provision of Rs. 7,300 exists for grant during the current financial year.
Lawrence School
A sum of Rs. 64,855 has been sanctioned during 1959-60 as Govern- ment of India's contribution to Lawrence School, Lovedale, for the maintenance of entitled children.
A budget provision of Rs. 65,000 has been made for this purpose for the year 1960-61.
T.C.M. Assistance for Secondary Education Assistance is being received from T.C. Administration of the U.S.A. in the form of stores and equipment, American experts and training facilities for Indians in selected subjects (Educational Administration etc.). For this purpose four operational Agreements (Nos. 47,50,66 and 74) were executed. The equipment is intended mainly for Extension Services Centres for in-service training of Secondary School Teachers, Model Multipurpose Schools and for developing the Central Institute of Education into a National Professional Education Centre. The agreements provide for equipment worth $10.9 lakhs and out of this equipment worth $9.4 lakhs has already been received and mostly distributed. Six technicians are at present working with the Directorate of Extension Programmes for Secondary Education and the Central Institute of Education, Delhi. Provision also exists for the training of 27 Indians for a few months in the U.S.A. in Educational Administration, Educational & Vocational Guidance etc. The subject is under consideration. To meet accounting )requirements, budget provisions have been made under Capital & Recurring grants as follows with corresponding recoveries:-
Revised Estimates 1959-60 - 45 lakhs.
Budget Estimates 1960-61 - 10 lakhs.
UNION TERRITORIES
Scholarships to Cadets of Union Territories studying in the
Rashtriya Indian Military College, Dehra Dun Under this scheme four scholarships have been renewed and one fresh scholarship awarded to Cadets from the Union Territories, studying at
33
Rashtriya Indian Military College, Debra Dun. Each scholarship is of the value of Rs. 1000. One more scholarship is likely to be awarded to a cadet for the second term 1959 and first term 1960.
A budget provision of Rs. 7,000 has been made for the year 1960-61.
Important Decisions on Educational Matters It has been decided to exempt all the students belonging to Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes who are bonafide residents of Union Territories from the payment of fees in respect of examinations conducted by Universities/Boards for a period of five years with effect from 1959-60.
Exemption from payment of tuition fees by all school going children up to the Secondary Stage has been sanctioned in Andaman and Nicobar Islands.
Exemption from payment of tuition fees up to and including Class VI has been sanctioned in Manipur.
A Regulation called the Andaman & Nicobar Islands (Primary Education) Regulation 3 of 1959 was promulgated on 26th June, 1959. This was published in the Gazette of India Extraordinary on 27th June, 1959. The salient features of the Regulation are:-
(i) Every child of school age residing within a specified area shall be required to attend the course of primary education imparted at a recognised school;
(ii) No fee for attending the course of primary education shall be levied at any recognised school; and
(iii) The guardian of every child of school age shall cause such child to attend a recognised school unless there be a reasonable excuse for non-attendance.
In order to safeguard the interests of the teachers of Government- aided private schools in the Union Territories particularly in regard to security of service, the Government of India have framed rules on the lines of the Central Civil Service (Classification, Control and Appeal) Rules for regulating the award of punishment to and the hearing of appeals of the teachers of aided schools. The most important features of the rules are that no order imposing penalty shall be passed by a school management except after the teacher has been given an opportunity to defend himself by making such representation as he may wish to make and after such representation, if any, has been given due consideration.
All appeals against, orders of punishment and other disputes relating to service conditions of such teachers will be heard by an Appellate Tribunal which will consist of the Director of Education as the Chairman
34
and the other members-one representing the appellant and the other the school managements.
To ensure regular payment of salaries to the teachers of Governmentaided schools in Delhi, permission has been given to the release of quarterly instalments of grant-in-aid in advance subject to certain conditions. The most important of them are:-
(i) That the salaries will be paid-regularly within the first week of every month by crossed cheque.
(ii) Heads of schools will submit a monthly report to the Director of Education certifying that the salaries of the teachers have been paid in time by the school managements.
The rate of employer's contribution to the Contributory Provident Fund of the employees has been increased from 6 1/4% to 8 1/3% of the employees' monthly salary.
It has been decided that in a Government-Aided Private School in Delhi, a teacher should in no case remain on probation for a period exceeding two years. On the satisfactory completion of the probationary period he should be confirmed immediately subject to availability of a post and the fulfilment of other conditions of eligibility.
A Welfare Officer of the rank of Deputy Director of Education has been appointed in the Education Directorate, Delhi, to look after the welfare of the employees of Government as well as Government-aided private schools.
In Manipur and Tripura the grant-in-aid rules for payment of grants to privately managed schools have been revised and in accordance with these revised rules, the scales of pay of Government teachers have been made applicable to the teachers in private schools also.
Secondary Education Journal The publication of "Secondary Education", a quarterly journal was continued during 1959.
National Research Advisory Council for Education In pursuance of the recommendations of the 2nd meeting of the Central Research Advisory Committee held in November, 1958, the Com- mittee has been rechristened as the National Research Advisory Council for Education under the chairmanship of the Union Education Minister.
At its last meeting, the Committee recommended that the two Bureaux, viz., Central Bureau of Educational and Vocational Guidance and Central Bureau of Textbook Research should be amalgamated with the Central
35
Institute of Education. Steps are now being taken to bring about the desired amalgamation.
The Committee suggested that we should call for suggestions from State Government regarding problems requiring research in their respective areas. These problems are to be investigated by the various Research Institutes working at the centre. Over 270 suggestions that have so far been received are under examination.
Committee on Moral and Religious Education In pursuance of a recommendation of the Central Advisory Board of Education the Government of India have appointed a Committee to make a detailed study of the question of religious and moral instruction in educational institutions.
The Committee consists of:-
1. Shri Sri Prakasa, Governor of Bombay (Chairman).
2. Shri G.C. Chatterjee, Chairman, Board of Secondary Education,Rajasthan, Jaipur.
3 Shri A.A.A. Fyzee, Vice-Chancellor, Jammu & Kashmir University, Srinagar.
4. Shri P.N. Kirpal, joint Secretary, Ministry of Education (Member-Secretary).
The terms of reference of the Committee are:-
(1) To examine the desirability and feasibility of making specific provision for the teaching of moral and spiritual values in educational institutions;
(2) If it is found desirable and feasible to make such provision: (a) to define broadly the content of instruction at various stages of education; and (b) to consider its place in the normal curriculum.
The Committee held its first meeting at Bombay on 17th and 18th November, 1959. The Committee again met at Bombay on the 20th and 21st December, 1959. The findings of the Committee were placed before, the 27th Session of the Central Advisory Board of Education Which broadly endorsed them.
Scheme of National Awards for Teachers The Scheme of National Awards for Teachers was started in the year 1958-59. The object of this Scheme is to raise the prestige of teachers and to give public recognition to the distinguished services rendered by them to the community. The scheme at present has been confined to
36
the practising teachers in Primary and Secondary Schools only. During the 1st year of the Scheme, i.e. in 1958-59, 32 awards were instituted, on a uniform basis of 2 awards to each State including Delhi Administration, and 2 awards for the other Union Territories taken together. Each award consists of a Certificate of Merit and a cash award of the value of Rs. 500. The minimum qualification of ten years recognised teaching service which was necessary for any teacher to be eligible for the award during the year 1958-59 has since been raised to 20 years. The preliminary selections of teachers for these awards are made by the Central Selection Committee appointed by the Ministry of Education.
The following factors are taken into consideration while making the selections:
(i) Teacher's reputation in the local community.
(ii) Teacher's academic efficiency and the desire for its improvement.
(iii) Teacher's genuine interest in, and love for children.
(iv) Teacher's share in the social life of the community.
The awards to 32 selected teachers last year (1958-59) were given away by the President of India at a special function held at Vigyan Bhavan, New Delhi on 25th January, 1959.
Programme for 1960 The number of awards for 1960 has been increased from 32 to 71-of which 38 are for the primary teachers and 33 for the Secondary. The Statewise distribution of the awards is as follows:-
S. No. State/Union Territory No. of awards for No. of awards
Primary teachers for Secondary
teachers.
1 Andhra Pradesh 4 1
2 Assam 2 2
3 Bihar 4 4
4 Bombay 5 5
5 Jammu & Kashmir 1 1
6 Kerala 1 2
7 Madhya Pradesh 3 3
8 Madras 3 1
9 Mysore 2 1
10 Orissa 2 1
11 Punjab 2 1
12 Rajasthan 1 1
14 West Bengal 3 3
15 Delhi
16 Himachal Pradesh
17 Manipur 1 1
18 Tripura
19 A. & N. Islands
20 L. Minicoy & Amindive Islands
TOTAL 38 33
37
The awards, for the year 1959-60 to the selected teachers were given at a special function held at Vigyan Bhavan on 25th January, 1960. The selected teachers who came to receive the awards were the guests of honour of the Union Education Ministry.
A provision of Rs. 48,000 has been made for this scheme for the year 1960-61.
Central Advisory Board of Education The 26th meeting of the Central Advisory Board of Education held at Madras from 12th January to 16th January, 1959 discussed among other things, the following:-
(1) Measures to be taken to accelerate the pace of conversion of High Schools into Higher Secondary Schools on the recognised pattern.
(2) Measures to be taken for the training of adequate number of teachers for the new Secondary Schools.
(3) The place of Sanskrit in the school curriculum.
(4) Greater coordination among schools, vocational guidance agencies and employing agencies.
(5) The problem of limiting admission to Universities.
(6) The question of additional Central assistance beyond the standard rate of 50% to the State Governments on a scale based on the Comparative backwardness of the State as revealed from its annual output of matriculate per lakh of population.
(7) Religious and Moral instruction in Educational institutions.
The recommendations of the Board have since been forwarded for necessary action to all concerned.
The 27th Session of the Board was held at New Delhi in February, 1960. State Education Ministers' Conference.
A conference of the State Education Ministers was held at Vigyan Bhawan, New Delhi on 8th/9th August, 1959. The Conference discussed, among other things, the following topics:-
(1) Provision of free and compulsory education with particular reference to the introduction of compulsory education for 6-11 years age-group in the third Five-Year Plan.
(2) The development of sports and physical activities in schools and colleges.
(3) The modifications suggested by the 1957 Lucknow Conference in the original recommendations of the Lucknow Conference held in 1953 regarding the reform of Devanagri script.
(4) The National Service Scheme.
38
(5) The question of converting the existing High schools into Higher Secondary schools during the Third Plan period.
(6) Equipment of the Education Departments of the States to enable them to meet the new requirements for the successful implementation of the educational provision of the third Five-Year Plan.
(7) Limiting the number of students in Universities and institutions of Higher Education.
(8) Future policy regarding the Anglo-Indian Institutions after the year 1960 when the special concessions under article 337 of the Constitution would have ceased.
Some of the recommendations made by the Conference are given below:
(1) In order to achieve the objective of universal, free and compulsory education for the age group 6-11 by the end of 1965-66 the implementation of the programme should be, started right from the beginning of the 3rd Five-Year Plan.
(2) High priority should be given to the problem of providing playgrounds for educational institutions. Associations representing educational institutions, Municipal and other local bodies, the P.W.D., the Town Planning authorities etc. should be constituted in each State for this purpose.
(3) The recommendations of the Devanagri Script Reform Conference held at Lucknow in 1953 as modified by the Conference held by the U.P. Government should be accepted.
(4) The introduction of the scheme of National Service on a compulsory basis should be considered only after the experience of a pilot project to be operated for a few years. A committee should be appointed to formulate the details of the proposed pilot project.
(5) In order to complete the reorganisation of Secondary education as early as possible, at least 50 per cent of the existing High Schools should be converted into Higher Secondary schools. During the Third Five- Year Plan, no new High school should be opened and all Secondary schools to be established anew should be of the Higher Secondary pattern. The rate of Central assistance for the establishment of Higher Secondary schools should be the same as for the conversion of High schools into Higher Secondary Schools.
(6) The finances needed for recruiting the staff for strengthening the administrative machinery for the implementation of the Third Five Year Plan should be made available during the
39
Second Plan period itself. Where a new scheme approved, in the course of the Plan cannot be fitted into the State ceiling for the education plan, to the extent necessary, the expenditure involved should be accepted as an addition to the provision in the State Plan for Education.
(7) The problem of 'the invading tide of numbers' in the Universities and institutions of Higher Education should be studied carefully by each State and the result of the study, submitted for consideration at the next conference.
(8) The matter should be further examined by the Ministry.
Central Institute of English, Hyderabad The Institute has a capacity of 60 trainees. Two courses are run each, year. Each course lasts four to five months. A seminar on the teaching, of English was held in May/June, 1959 at Ootacamund. Funds are provided to the Institute by the Government of India in the form of grants. A sum of Rs. 4,70,000 in all has been sanctioned so far. A sum of Rs. 4,87,000 is expected to be sanctioned during the current financial year. Budget provision for the next year is Rs. 5,20,000. Assistance is also provided to the Institute by the Ford Foundation in the form of fellowships, stipends etc.
Central Bureau of Educational & Vocational Guidance
I. RESEARCH
1. Construction, adaptation and standardization of tests for
use in the school guidance programme On the basis of data obtained from psychological tests, school marks and questionnaires from a sample of approximately 1,200 students, predictions were made about the success of these students in their higher secondary examinations.
Follow-up of these students has been in progress during the last two years.
2. Science Selection Battery This battery consists of the following sub-tests:
(i) A verbal test of intelligence.
(ii) A non-verbal test of intelligence prepared, by the National Foundation of Educational Research, London.
(iii) A space test prepared by the same foundation.
(iv) A test of arithmetical reasoning prepared by the NFER.
40
(v) A mechanical reasoning test which combines items from two tests in use in the U.S.A.
All five tests have been administered to approximately 500 students of nine Boys' Higher Secondary Schools of Delhi. The work of item- analysis of the data has also been completed.
3. Adaptation of Wechsler Adult Intelligence Test The scale consists of ten sub-tests five of which are verbal and five non-verbal. The five verbal tests are at present being modified and have been administered to a selected group of students in the local schools for the purpose of try-out of the items.
4. Preparation of tests for the Government of India Merit
Scholarship Selection As in the past three years, the entire work in connection with the preparation of tests for the different age groups from 5 to 12 years was entrusted to the Bureau by the Scholarships Division of the Ministry of Education.
II.TRAINING
One Session Professional Course in Educational Guidance-July 1958
May 1959 The course consisted of theoretical as well as practical training. Nine candidates underwent training-all were recommended for the award of the Diploma in Educational & Vocational Guidance.
III. FIELD SERVICE
The Bureau was assisted by a number of Secondary Institutions in Delhi in organising guidance activities for their students. The follow-up of the students, who were given guidance by a Counsellor from the Bureau during the pilot project of guidance in 1955, is being undertaken for the third successive year.
A small number of students visited the Bureau each month and were given individual guidance and tested where necessary.
Publications The Hindi version of the pamphlet "Your Child at the Crossroads" was printed and distributed to State Bureaux, Directorates of Education and Training Colleges.
Three issues of 'Guidance News' were prepared and distributed to State and private guidance bureaux and other institutions.
41
Central Bureau of Textbook Research
Workshop on Textbooks The C.B.T.R. held a workshop for authors from 9th March to 18th April 1959. This was conducted by Dr. Bernice Leary, a T.C.M. consul- tant. Eight States were represented and in all about 15 members participated in this workshop. They produced two books-one for grade VI. in General Science and one for grade III in Social Studies.
An Integrated Syllabus for the Delhi Directorate of Education The Bureau completed an integrated syllabus for the Delhi Directorate of Education. The syllabus is common to both Basic and non-Basic schools in the Delhi area and is meant for their use.
Publications (a) Material in the Press:
(i) Analysis Sheet for History Textbooks.
(ii) Analysis Sheet for Language Textbooks.
(b) Material Ready for Publication:
(i) Analysis Sheet for Science Textbooks.
(ii) Analysis Sheet in Geography for Middle Grades.
(iii) Analysis Sheet in Language for Middle Grades.
(iv) A book "Hints to Authors of Science Textbooks" has been completed along with some specimen lessons on General' Science for Class III.
(v) Two small pamphlets entitled (1) "Animals in our Home and Farm" and (2) "The Story of Little Manya (Marie Curie)" for supplementary reading for classes VI to VIII have been completed.
Work in Progress Projects in progress include the preparation of a booklet entitled "Hints to Authors of Social Studies Textbooks".
Central Institute of Education During the session that ended in April, 1959 the Institution had on its rolls 93 students (including 55 women) in the B.Ed. class, and 23 students (including 3 women) in the M.Ed. class. It also had 12 students working for the Ph.D. degree of the University. All the students who took up the B.Ed. & M.Ed. examination passed.
42
A three months intensive, course in the Methodology of Art for un- trained teachers of Art has been started at the Institute.
At the Basic School attached to the Institute the following experiments mare being carried out:-
(1) A project on Developing a Community-centred programme in an Urban Basic School (as an action research study). This is an attempt to recognize pupil needs, purposes, background and capacities.
(2) The project of evolving a course in the teaching of functional English grammer to the VII and VIII classes of the school.
(3) A programme of written work in Hindi for grades VI to VIII of the Basic School.
(4) Eight hobby clubs have been started in the school this year. They meet every Saturday for one hour. The children are evincing great interest in them. Proper records are being maintained by the children themselves.
The Community Centre in the Basic School has continued its activities. The Centre runs four classes:
(i) a literacy class for beginners (ii) a post-literacy class (iii) a class equivalent to the third class of the Basic School (iv) a class equivalent to the fourth class of the Basic School. Besides this, there is a group of 20 men learning toy-making (in wax and plaster of paris) and a group of 30 women learning tailoring, embroidery, and knitting. In addition, there are the usual other programmes like film shows, bhajans, dramatics, radio programmes and excursions.
During the course of the year the following studies and reports were published by staff members of the Institute:-
Publication No. 29 Measurement of understanding in physics by D.S. Nigam.
Publication No. 30 Validity of a Battery of Selection Tests for Admission
to the B.Ed. course at the C.I.E. by R.N. Mehrotra.
Publication No. 31 Qualitative Analysis of Children's Explanations of
Physical Causalty by Prem Pasricha & Prem Singari Suri.
Publication No. 32 Foundation of a National System of Education for India.
43
Publication No. 33 A study (if the Marks obtained by Examinees in
Different Subjects at the M.A. Examination of the
University of Delhi in the years 1950 to 1957 by
Snehlata Shukla.
Publication No. 34 A Study of written Vocabulary of Sixth Class Children
in Delhi Schools by Prem Pasricha Sudhir K. Das.
Publication No. 35 Assembly Prayers by E.A. Pires.
Publication No. 36 A comparison of the Attainment of Children of the
C.I.E. Basic School with Those of Other School Children
in Delhi.
Publication No. 37 Planning and Organising School journey.
Publication No. 38 A Report on the Construction and Standardization of a
Verbal Group Test of Intelligence (13 plus).
Publication No.39 Elementary Education in British India during the later
Ninteenth Century.
The Alumni Association of the C.I.E. has brought out a Handbook
on Educational Excursions.