NON-FORMAL (ADULT) EDUCATION
The major achievements during this year in the field of adult education have been: launching the programme of non-formal education for youth in the age-group 15-25; expansion and strengthening of the functional literacy project; expansion and strengthening of urban adult education programmes; increased exchange of experiences with adult educators in other countries; and emphasis on adult education programmes for women. In addition, on-going programmes such as assistance to voluntary organisations, production of literature for neo-literates, were consolidated and strengthened.
Non-Formal Education for Youth In 15-25 Age-Group The Fifth Plan Educational strategy which has been endorsed by the Central Advisory Board of Education in its 37th and 38th sessions, places great emphasis on a combination of non-formal with formal approaches to education. Accordingly, non-formal education programmes are being developed both for the age-group 6-14 and for 15 and above. Under the adult education programmes priority is being given to the age-group 15-25 for the reason of the vital importance of this group in socioeconomic development.
The Scheme of non-formal education for the age-group 1525, duly approved by the Planning Commission and the Ministry of Finance, was launched during the year. It is being started in one district in each State with Central assistance. Each district will start about 100 learning centres, each centre enrolling about 30 young people. Central assistance at the rate of Rs. 1 lakh per district was released to the States and Union, Territories. In addition, each State and Union Territory has also been requested to start the scheme at least in one more district out of its own resources. Most States have done so, some like U.P., Rajasthan and Assam have started the programme on a larger scale.
Guidelines for preparatory work for implementing the programme were provided as also a draft curriculum prepared with the help of a large-group of adult educators curriculum and subject specialists. The curriculum is related to the environmental conditions and local needs and aspirations of youth groups. Among other things it includes information and knowledge and
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understanding about the living environment, basic knowledge for understanding various social, economic, scientific and technological changes, elementary principles of health and hygiene, child care and nutrition, introductory occupational vocational skills and basic skills in reading, writing and arithmetic correlated with attitudinal changes and aptitudinal promotion.
The programme is in various stages of implementation in the States. Some have organised new orientation courses for personnel (Rajasthan, Haryana, and Uttar Pradesh); some have formulated curricula, learning and teaching materials (U.P.) and others have held writers workshops for preparing the learning materials (Haryana).
Functional Literacy Programme The process of strengthening and consolidating the programme which started during 1974-75 has since been continued in an intensified manner. These measures include orientation of project personnel, activising of the coordinating machinery at various levels, streamlining of the data flow, review of teaching and learning materials and continuous supply of guide materials to project organisers, supervisors and teachers. in addition, the programme was extended to 16 new districts during the current year bringing the total number of farmers functional literacy project districts to 123. Selection of these new districts has been done in consultation with the Ministry of Agriculture. Up to the end of Fourth Plan about 3 lakh adults had benefitted under the farmers functional literacy programme. During the first two years of the Fifth Plan, additional number of beneficiaries is expected to be 3 lakhs.
During the current year the project has not only been extended to cover new districts, but also to cover new functional areas. One of the new districts is the Goalpara district in Assam where the programme is being related to the small farmers' needs. Steps have also been initiated to develop functional literacy programmes in selected tribal area linked with the Integrated Tribal Development Project implemented by the Ministry of Home Affairs. Further, with the financial help from the Ministry of Education, voluntary organisations are also developing functional literacy programmes related to other areas such as animal husbandry, adult urban workers, special needs of women etc.
The experiment in the problem-oriented materials built around the Bajra crop in Jaipur district was carried out in 30 village centres. The evaluation data gathered in this project are now under analysis.
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Non-Formal Education of Urban Workers Non-formal education of urban workers constitutes an important component of the overall adult education effort. The objective is to develop a variety of such educational programmes which may improve the professional skills of workers and also enrich their family and community life. Two types of programmes are offered under this scheme. The first is the programme of polyvalent education centres and the second of workers social education institutes. The experiment of polyvalent education centre started in Bombay. This centre provides integrated educational and training courses for different categories of workers with a view to improving their competence and productive ability and enrich their personal life. The new polyvalent education centres have been opened at Delhi and Ahmedabad during the current year. The polyvalent education centre, Delhi is working under the direct control of the Directorate of Non formal (Adult) Education, and the centre at Ahmedabad is being managed by the University of Gujarat.
The workers' social education institutes at Indore and Nagpur continued to offer educational programmes to working men and women in their areas.
Assistance to Voluntary Organisations The Ministry of Education continue to extend financial support to worthwhile and meaningful adult education projects undertaken by various voluntary organisations in the country. Particular emphasis was placed on non-formal and functional literacy programmes related to women, tribal areas, urban workers and innovative efforts to develop new curricula and materials for nonformal education approaches. About 50 voluntary organisations have been assisted during this year and the total amount of assistance is about Rs. 18 lakhs.
production of Literature For Neo-Literates Production and supply of appropriate literature to the bene- ficiaries of adult education programmes is an important follow-up activity. The object is to help neo-literates in getting such mate- rial through which they may continue their self-learning. The programme consists of the following schemes:
(1) National Prize Competition for books/manuscripts for neo-literates.
(2) Grants-in-aid to State Governments for production of literature for neo-literates.
(3) Production/supply of literacy and reading materials to National Service Scheme Centres, Nehru Yuvak Kendras etc.
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1. National Prize Competition of books/ manuscripts for neo-
literates This is an annual feature and seventeen competitions have been organised so far, in which 560 books/manuscripts, have been awarded prizes. During the current financial year XVIII Competition has been organised and results will be announced shortly.
The XIX Competition is being announced. A significant feature in the XIX Competition will be the addition of 25 awards specifically ear-marked for themes of family planning. The Department of Family Planning will be meeting the expenditure in respect of these additional awards.
2. Grants-in-aid to State Governments for the production of
literature for neo-literates During the year 1975-76 Central Grant amounting to Rs. 2.5 lakhs has been released to the State Governments for this programme.
3. Production/supply of literacy and reading materials to National
Service Scheme Centres, Nehru Yuvak Kendras etc. The Directorate of Non-formal (Adult) Education continued their activities under these sub-schemes by purchasing and supplying literacy and other follow up materials to all the beneficiaries/ organisations. Sets of literacy and reading materials were supplied to NSS units in different universities and FFL Projects to the value of Rs. 2.85 lakhs.
Publications and Documentation Service During the year under report, Directorate of Non-formal (Adult) Education, brought out a large number of publications on various aspects of non-formal (adult) education and youth programmes. Exchange of information and documentation is becoming a regular feature of the Directorate which has been able to establish contacts with organisations, institutions, libraries in India as well as in many countries.
Visits of Foreign Delegations/Teams Study-cum-observation teams from Tanzania, Kenya and Afghanistan visited India to study Indian projects of non-formal education. These visits were sponsored by UNDP/UNESCO.