 EDUCATION IN THE UNION TERRITORIES

The Ministry of Education is handling, at the Union Government level, Education in the Union Territories. However, the Territories of Goa, Daman and Diu, Himachal Pradesh, Manipur, Pondicherry and Tripura have their own legislatures; and powers specified in the Government of Union Territories Act, 1963, are enjoyed by the respective Governments.

2. A brief report on the progress of school education during 1966-67 in the Union Territories is given in the following paragraphs.

AANDAMAN AND NICOBAR ISLANDS

3. Expansion and Improvement:

During the year under report, there were 110 primary schools, 9 middle/senior Basic schools and 3 higher secondary schools in the territory. One Central school was opened in October, 1966. The enrolment for the year 1966-67 is given below:

        
             Primary stage                 7,645
        
             Middle stage                  1,714
        
             Secondary stage               1,443

4. Education of Girls:

In the Islands, there is one higher secondary school exclusively for girls. To promote girls' education several concessions are being given. These include the provision of: (i) stipends to students coming from rural areas and residing in hostels, (ii) concessions in the fare charged by the bus attached to the girls' higher secondary school, and (iii) hostel accommodation.

5. Science Education:

General science is taught as a com- pulsory subject up to the secondary stage. Science is taught as an elective subject from Class IX in all the higher secondary schools. Steps are being taken to provide equipment to the

science laboratories. Qualified science teachers have been provided to 3 senior Basic schools and all the higher secondary schools.

6. Scholarships and Other Concessions:

Education is free up to the higher secondary stage. Adequate number of scholarships is being given for post-matric studies on the mainland.

7. Under the scheme entitled, "book grants to poor students", textbooks are supplied to poor students reading in pre-higher secondary stage in the Islands and in post-higher secondary stage in institutions on the mainland.

8. All school-going children belonging to scheduled tribes are entitled to get full supply of books and stationery, including slates, pens, note-books, etc., free of cost. Two sets of uniforms per year are also supplied to every tribal school-going child at 50 per cent subsidised cost.

9. The mid-day meals scheme provided for the supply of nutritious snacks to all school-going children at the rate of 12 paise per child per school day. During 1966-67, 10,802 school-going children benefited from it.

10. Teacher Training:

There is only one junior Basic teacher training school at Port Blair with an intake capacity of 24 trainees.

11. N.C.C./A.C.C.: There are 5 N.C.C. Naval Wing Units for boys and one Jr. Division N.C.C. Army Wing Unit for girls in the Islands.

12. Programme for 1967-68 :

It is proposed to establish an evening college at Port Blair and to strengthen the, existing Junior Basic Teachers Training School.

13. Budget:

The expenditure on general education for the year, 1966-67, is estimated at Rs. 9,44,000 for Plan schemes and Rs. 16,57,100 for non-Plan items. For the next year the expenditure is expected to be Rs. 16,66,000 for Plan schemes and Rs. 17,25,000 for non-Plan items.

B. DADRA AND NAGAR HAVELI

14. Expansion and Improvement :

During the year under report, there were 50 primary schools, 18 middle/senior Basic

schools and 2 high schools in the Territory. The enrolment for the year 1966-67 is given below:-

        
             Primary stage                 2,683
        
             Middle stage                  2,838
        
             Secondary stage               407

15. Science Education :

General science is a compulsory subject in standards I to VII

16. N.C.C./A.C.C.: There are 120 boy cadets and 70 girl cadets in the 2, high schools.

17. Scholarships and Other Concessions:

Education is free in the Territory from the primary to the high stage.

18. The Administration is supplying, free of cost, textbooks, note-books, slates and slate pencils, etc, to all the pupils belonging to the scheduled castes and scheduled tribes, as well as to economically backward pupils from standards I to X. More, over, all Adivasi and the poor non-Adivasi pupils of primary schools are given clothes, free of cost.

19. About 22 primary schools are supplied-with gift food and the primary schools situated in the interior are having their mid-day meals free of cost.

20. Administration runs one Adivasi hostel at Silvassa where pupils belonging to scheduled castes and scheduled tribes from the interior of the Territory are admitted from standard V onwards up to the secondary stage. An honorarium of Rs. 25 per month is given to each student in addition to free board and lodging, of which the expenses are borne by the Administration.

21. Achievements :

The demand for education among Adivasi children is increasing on account of the incentives given. Moreover, the standard of teaching has improve in schools co account of the appointment of trained teachers in primary schools.

22. Budget :

The expenditure on general education for the year 1966-67 is estimated at Rs, 1,83,000 for Plan schemes and Rs. 7,18,000 for non-Plan items. For the next year, the

expenditure is expected to be Rs. 6,23,800 for Plan schemes, and Rs. 6,05,500 for non-Plan items.

C. DELHI

23. Expansion and Development:

During the year under report, there were 926 primary schools, 461 middle schools and. 407 higher secondary schools in the Territory. Of these, 35 primary schools, 40 middle schools and 14 higher secondary schools were started during 1966-67. The total enrolment during the year was as follows :-

        
             Primary stage            4,35,000
        
             Middle stage             1,93,000
        
             Secondary stage          1,03,000

24. Education of Girls:

In addition to co-educational. institutions in which girls were also studying, the number of institutions exclusively meant for girls comprised 387 primary schools, 199 middle schools, and 157 higher secondary schools. To promote girls education, special allowances are given to, women teachers and stipends are given to women teacher trainees. A scheme to provide free transport facilities in rural. areas is also in operation.

25. Science Education:

At the primary stage, general) science is taught in the form of nature study, health, hygiene, etc. General science is taught as a compulsory subject at the middle school stage. At the higher secondary stage, general science is taught as a core subject in the first two years after Class VIII in all multipurpose schools.

26. In order to make the teaching of science more effective, steps have been taken to strengthen school laboratories with equipment. An amount of about Rs. 3.61 lakh has been provided for the purchase of scientific material for the schools.

27. Under the All-India Science Talent Search Examination, 150 scholars were awarded scholarships during 1965-66.

28. Scholarships and Other Educational Concessions:

In this regard, the following schemes are in operation: (i) Education is free up to class VIII. (ii) Open scholarships for middle, stage (classes VI-VIII) of the value of Rs. 50 per annum for 3

years in any Government or recognised school situated in the Territory are given. (iii) Open scholarships of the value of Rs. 10 per month are also given for higher secondary classes (IX-XI). (iv) There are other scholarship schemes, such as charitable scholarships, destitute scholarships, scholarships for political sufferers, scholarships in industrial schools in addition to the Government of India scholarships.

29. Teachers Training :

There are 3 institutions for the training of primary teachers and three colleges for the training of secondary school teachers. The annual intake capacity is 103 in primary and 200 in secondary training institutions. The Central Institute of Education also provided correspondence course for which 240 students were enrolled.

30. N.C.C./A.C.C.:

There are 4 groups and 32 units in the N.C.C./A.C.C., of which 3 units were raised during 1966-67.

31. Adult Literacy :

In 1965-66, it was estimated that the number of illiterate adults in rural areas was 70,000. About 30,000 were made literate by the end of 1965-66. The programme could not be continued in 1966-67 on that scale. The remaining 90,000 illiterates are planned to be covered during 1967-68.

32. Achievements in 1966-67:

(i) A State Institute of Education was established. (ii) Eleven new higher secondary schools were opened. Besides, 220 additional sections were opened in the existing schools. (iii) Science was introduced in 19 additional higher secondary schools. (iv) Summer classes were arranged for minimising wastage and stagnation in schools. (v) A Regional Art Counsellor was appointed to provide opportunities to primary school children for creative self-expression.

33. Programme for 1967-68:

(1) Opening of more higher secondary schools and starting additional sections in the existing schools. (2) Provision of craft/music and dancing in schools. (3) Scheme for postgraduate courses in science for trained science teachers in schools.

34. Budget:

The expenditure on general education for the year 1966-67 is estimated at Rs. 66,01,300 for Plan schemes and

Rs. 8,14,99,800 for non-Plan items. For the next year, the ex- penditure is expected to be Rs. 1,41,86,000 for Plan schemes. and Rs. 8,46,84,700 for non-Plan items.

D. GOA, DAMAN AND DIU

35. Expansion and Development:

During the year under review, there were 843 primary schools, 202 middle schools and 141 high schools and 1 higher secondary school in the Territory. These include 31 primary schools, 59middle schools and 13 high schools started during the year.The enrolment for 1966-67 is as follows:

        
             Primary stage                           82,221
        
             Middle stage                            27,277
        
             Secondary stage                         16,026

36. Education of Girls:

There are 22schools exclusively for girls. To promote girls education, it is proposed to pay grants for the purchase of school uniforms, books slates, etc. at the elementary level of education

37. Science Education:

General science is a compulsory subject from standard V upwards. Special grants for the purchase of laboratory equipment for physics and chemistry sections are being paid by the Government. Steps are being taken to provide science equipment to elementary schools also.

38. Scholarships and Other Educational Concessions:

(i) No tuition fee is charged in Government schools up to standard VIII, (ii) That Department distributes free textbooks to poor and deserving students in standards I and II, (iii) So far, no, caste or tribe has been classified as scheduled in the Territory, but economically backward class scholarships are granted to students whose parents' income is less than Rs. 2,000 per annum

39. Mid-day Meals Programme:

This scheme is implemented in rural areas where 20 per cent of the cost is borne by the local people. The cost is computed, at the rate of 20 paise per day per child for 100 days in a year, During 1966-67, about 7,000 children are expected to have benefited from, this scheme. It is proposed to cover more children during 1967-68.

40. Teachers Training Programme :

There are 2 institutions for the training of primary school teachers and one for

secondary school teachers with a capacity of 200 seats and 50 seats respectively.

41. N.C.C./A.C.C. : The 6 Units of N.C.C. continued to function during 1966-67.

42. Adult Literacy :

An intensive programme of adult education was undertaken in 7 villages, and one gram panchayat area has been selected for a pilot project for intensive literacy drive. During 1966-67, about 2,500 adults are expected to be made literate and during 1967-68 it is proposed to cover about 10,000 adults under this programme in 20 different villages where 500 literacy centres will be opened for the purpose.

43. Achievements in 1966-67:

Five Government high schools were established in rural areas.

44. Budget:

The expenditure on general education for the year 1966-67 is estimated at Rs. 49,50,000 for Plan schemes and Rs. 1,29,40,000 for non-Plan items. For the next year the expenditure is expected to be Rs. 54,50,000 for Plan schemes and Rs, 1,23,10,000 for non-Plan items.

E. HIMACHAL PRADESH

45. Expansion and Improvement:

The Union Territory of Himachal Pradesh was enlarged due to the merger of hilly areas of the erstwhile State of Punjab with it with effect from 1st November, 1966. During 1966-67, it bad 3,555 primary schools, 521 middle schools, 175 high schools and 96 higher Secondary schools. These include 215 primary schools, 72 middle schools and 13 high schools started during the year. The enrolment figures for 1966-67 are given below:

         
             Primary stage                                3,33,000
        
             Middle stage                                 80,000
        
             Secondary stage                              36,000.

46. Education for Girls:

The incentives provided for the promotion of girls' education included; (i) free education for girls up to the middle stage; (ii) freeships in high/higher secondary classes; (iii) attendance scholarships in various classes from primary to secondary stage; (iv) appointment of school mothers

to look after girl students; (v) village allowance to women teachers for work in rural areas; (vi) provision for free supply of textbooks to poor and deserving students; and (vii) award of preselection scholarships in classes VII-IX

47. Mid-day Meals Programme:

There is a programme of providing mid-day meals to 3,000 children in tribal areas and of distribution of free milk to about 6,000 children in selected schools. Approximately 50 per cent of the children covered under the programme are girls.

48. Science Education:

Teaching of general science is provided in all primary, middle, high and higher secondary schools. General science is a compulsory subject of study in primary and middle classes. In 9th and 10th classes also, general science forms part of the curriculum and has to be studied by all students. Certain steps were taken to improve the teaching of science in schools. These are: (i) two science consultants for elementary schools and 5 science consultants for secondary schools have been appointed; (ii) science clubs were started in a number of schools; (iii) seminars/workshops on teaching and evaluation, in science have been started at various levels; and (iv) content courses of 2 months duration for teachers of middle schools for teaching of general science in middle classes were conducted.

49. Scholarships and Other Concessions:

Education is free up to middle standard in all the schools. There is also a scheme, for awarding scholarships for both under-matric and post-matric students. Moreover, textbooks worth Rs. 5,400 were supplied free to deserving students.

50. Teacher's Training Programme:

There are 8 schools and 19 units for the training of primary school teachers and three colleges and three units for the training of secondary school teachers. The annual intake capacity of these is 1,510 for primary teachers and 540 for secondary teachers.

51. N.C.C./A.C.C.:

There are 10 units of boys and 1 unit of girls.

52. Adult Education :

A three-pronged attack was made in order to eradicate adult illiteracy from the Territory.

53. Achievements in 1966-67 :

In order to meet the increasing demand for education, 215 primary schools, 72 middle schools and 10 high schools were opened. In one college, evening classes were started.