The Ministry organised the Seventh All India Conference on Education Statistics on September 24-25, 1979, at the National Institute of Educational Planning & Administration, New Delhi. The Conference was attended by Statistical Officers Incharge of Educational Statistics in State Education Departments and representatives from Central and other organisations. The Conference reviewed the revised system of collection of educational statistics. It also discussed quinquinnial collection of statistics, annual training of the statistical staff at various levels, strengthening of the statistical machinery in the states and steps to be taken for improvement of the quality of educational statistics. The recommendations made by the conference have been taken up for implementation.

(ii) Standing Committee on Educational Statistics

During the year 1979-80, two meetings of the Standing Committee were held on May 17, 1979 and September 26, 1979. The Committee, among other things, recommended periodical Conferences of State Statistical officers/Incharge of Educational Statistics to discuss problems faced by this Division in collection of educational statistics, introduction of quinquinnial Collection of educational statistics, preparation of theme-oriented studies, strengthening of statistical machinery in State Education Departments. Action is being taken to implement the recommendations of the committee.

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(iii) Publications

Twelve publications-four printed and the remaining in cyclostyled form-were brought out during the years.

(b) Planning and Monitoring

A Central Plan of Rs. 93.08 crores was agreed to by the Planning Commission for administering various central programmes of education for 1980-81. Within the financial constraints, adequate provisions have been made for the priority sectors of Adult Education, and Non- Formal Education for the children of the age-group 9-14 in the educationally backward states. A provision of Rs. 20.85 crores for Adult Education and Rs. 5.50 crores for Non-Formal Education has been made to assist the State Governments for eradicating illiteracy and promoting elementary education among children who either cannot go into formal schooling system or have dropped out of that system without completing education.

Adequate attention has been given for promoting educational development among Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes. The State Governments were supplied with the copies of (i) map of India showing predominantly tribal areas; (ii) booklet on areas of tribal concentration in India; (iii) report of the working Group on tribal development during Sixth Plan, 1978-83; and (iv) report of the working Group for Scheduled Castes and other backward communities for the Sixth Plan. Simultaneously they were requested to prepare special programmes, for the educational development of Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes as a part of their annual and five-year planes.

An analysis of budget provisions for education at the centre and the states for the year 1979-80 was brought out. A study has been undertaken to analyse the trends of expenditure on education during the last decade. A study has also been undertaken to analyse the extent of wastage and stagnation in few selected states and districts. This study in respect of the state of Maharashtra is under finalisation.

Three publications were brought out during the year under report.

Publication Unit

The Publication Unit during the year 1979-80 up to December, 1979 brought out 24 titles in English including one

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bilingual (English and Hindi) title and the quarterly journal viz. 'The Education Quarterly' that has now entered its 31st year.

The Unit participated in the Book Exhibition organised by the Madras University during July, 1979. It also organised the Third Travelling Photo Exhibition entitled 'Children of Asia' sponsored by the Asian Cultural Centre for Unesco, Tokyo at Rabindra Bhawan Galleries from 23rd November to 30th November, 1979.

The Hindi Publication Unit brought out during the same period 18 titles including two quarterly journals 'Shiksha Vivechan' and 'Sanskriti'.

Students Information Service Unit

The Students Information Service Unit collects, compiles and disseminates information on higher education in India and abroad for the benefit of the students and attends to their enquiries on various subject fields.

0 During the year under report, it attended to about 6,454 en- quiries relating to facilities for higher education in India and abroad. Nearly 5.371 persons visited the Reference Library attached to the Unit to consult the calendars, handbooks, prospectuses and other bulletins of information on various courses offered by Indian/foreign universities/institutions. One thousand six hundred and fifteen additions were made to the Reference Library by way of latest calendars, prospectuses and other relevant literature acquired from several universities/institutions.

About 32 compilations on different topics/subjects of higher education were brought out and revised during the year under report.

Deputations/Delegations Abroad of Government Officials/Non- Officials during the financial year 1978-79

        
             Number of delegations sent abroad                        89
        
             Number of persons included in these
             delegations/deputations                                 124
        
             Total expenditure incurred                    Rs. 10,72,494
        
                                          

DEPARTMENT OF CULTURE

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