 EDUCATION IN THE UNION TERRITORIES

Education in the Union Territories constitutes a special responsibility of the Central Government. An account of the educational facilities and activi- ties undertaken during the year in respect of each of the Union Territories is given in this Chapter.

1. Lakshadweep

The Union Territory of Lakshadweep is a centrally adminstered area.

There are 42 educational institutions which consist of 2 colleges, 9 high schools, 4 senior basic schools, 18 junior basic schools and 9 nursery schools.

Lakshadweep consist of 10 inhabited islands. Nursery schools are func- tioning, one each, in 9 islands. The total number of children on the rolls of nursery schools is 749.

Primary education has been provided in all islands. The number of stu- dents on roll in primary classes is 13102. Number on roll at high school is 1983. The textbooks, writing materials, and mid-day meals are provided to children in primary and middle school classes free of cost.

The scheme for payment of scholarship at the rate of Rs. 40/- p.m. to the native students studying in high schools is being continued. One senior divi- sion NCC and six junior division NCC (Naval) are functioning in the Union Territory. The total number of cadets is 414. One NCC camp was held at mainland both for senior division and junior division NCC cadets during the year. Orientation courses for primary, middle and Malyalam teachers were conducted at Trichur during May-June, 1984.

The two colleges namely, Jawaharlal Nehru College, Kavaratii and Mahatma Gandhi College, Androth have 541 students on their rolls and these colleges run pre-degree classes. The students from the Lakshadweep Island are admitted to various educational institutions on the mainland and a number of seats are reserved for them in engineering and medical colleges etc. The expenses on education on mainland for Lakshadweep scheduled tribe students are met by the Administration as per the existing approved scholarship rules.

Parent-teachers' Associations and Teachers' Forum are functioning in all islands. Ten scout troops and two girl guides are functioning in different schools. Uniforms and training materials are supplied to these troops. Supply of books etc. is made to 30 adult education centres functioning in the island at present.

2. Dadra & Nagar Haveli

Since the date of integration of this Union Territory with Indian Union, vigorous steps have been taken for the progress in the field of education. The Administration introduced various developmental schemes to create aware- ness among the people and attract more children to schools.

There are 160 primary schools With enrolment of 16,342, out of which Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes number 487 and 13291 respecti- vely. There are 4 high schools and 3 higher secondary schools. The total strength in high schools and higher secondary schools is 2377 students, out of which Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes are 145 and 1133 respecti- vely. Facilities like free education to all students upto higher secondary level; free mid-day meals to all students upto elementary education; free note books and textbooks; two pairs of clothes and shoes etc. are provided to Scheduled Caste/Scheduled Tribe students in the Union Territory. There are 9 social welfare hostels and the strength of the inmates during the year is 555. A number of financial concessions in the form of incentive cash awards for punctual attendance, as also for standing first, second and third in various classes besides reimbursement of examination fees paid by Scheduled Cas- te/Scheduled Tribe students etc. are allowed to students.

The adult education programme was launched in this Union Territory in the year 1978-79 with 30 centres comprising 1333 adult trainees. During 1984-85, the strength of centres has risen to 66 with an enrolment of 2000 adult trainees.

Seats have been reserved for various courses like medical, engineering nd other technical courses for the students belonging to this territory. Physi- l education is also being imparted in all the primary, secondary and higher condary schools of this Union Territory in which qualified teachers are pointed. Annual sports and open sports competitions are also organised y year. The other curricular activities are also paid due attention. The nal population education project was introduced from October 1983, nder this programme, 118 primary/middle school teachers have been ed till date. Under the community singing programme, primary school rs as well as high school teachers are oriented.

. Pondicherry

ion Territory of Pondicherry is one of the educationally advanced -itories. A primary school has been established within a radius of idle school within a radius of 2 kms., and a high school within a kms. of the habitation limits in Pondicherry.

v and Karaikal regions are affiliated to Tamil Nadu Board and ity; Mahe region is affiliated to Kerala Board and Calicut Uni- gion is affiliated to Andhra Board and Andhra University,

been in existence in this Union Territory since long. At

present, 43 pre-primary schools are being run by Education Department. The object of pre-primary schools is to inculcate in the young ones, the school going habit, besides imparting some basic knowledge in healthy-living envi- ronment etc. Elementary education, being the bed-rock of the entire system of education, gets greater care towards maintaining standards and improv- ing infrastructure in the institutions of elementary education. During 1984- 85, 40 next higher standards/additional classes in the existing schools at the elementary stage have been opened. The additional enrolment under age group 6-14 is 675 during 1984-85. Facilities, like mid-day meals, supply of free textbooks, uniforms etc. are available to poor children. Retention scho- larships are awarded to Scheduled Caste girl students in primary schools to improve their attendance in schools.

The present enrolment of students at the secondary stage is 15098. The total number of higher secondary schools in this Union Territory is 19 and the present enrolment of students in higher secondary schools is 5029. Edu- cation from pre-primary to higher secondary is completely free for all.

There are 7 colleges in this Union Territory with a total student strength of 3910. Three of these colleges are post-graduate institutions. A Law College also exists in the Union Territory of Pondicherry. Awards under University Education Scholarships Scheme and under Free Education up to degree level are given to eligible students.

Physical education is made compulsory in all the schools. NCC and Scout movement are also encouraged. The present strength of NCC cadets is 4998 and scouts is 1300. So far, 677 Adult Education Centres have been opened and 17303 learners have been enrolled. As usual, necessary learning mate- rials are provided free of cost to adult learners.

There are 2 technical institutions in this Union Territory. The courses already opened in these institutions have been consolidated and are being maintained. During 1984-85, 76 engineering seats, 24 seats in agriculture faculty and 72 in other general education courses were obtained from the neighbouring States for the students of this territory.

Every year, scholarships are awarded under the national scholarships scheme. Merit-cum-means scholarships and merit prizes are also provided to give students studying in secondary stage. A number of scholarships have been sanctioned to help the poor and meritorious students to prosecute their higher studies. Political sufferers' scholarships scheme is also being continued.

4. Andaman & Nicobar Islands

There are 284 educational institutions comprising one Government col- lege, one polytechnic, one B. Ed. college, one teachers' training institute, 22 senior secondary schools, 20 secondary schools, 39 middle schools, 183 primary schools and 16 pre-primary schools. In addition, a large number of private nursery schools and Balwadis are functioning in different parts of the territory.

During the year, 6 new primary schools were opened and 6 primary

schools were upgraded to middle schools. Eight middle schools were upgrad- ed to the status of secondary schools and 3 secondary schools to the level of senior secondary schools. Five non-formal education centres were opened. Under adult education, 20 post literacy centres were started. Additional sec- tions in different media were introduced according to requirements of enrol- ment at various places.

4413 additional children were enrolled at the elementary stage of educa- 2 tion. Free textbooks were provided to 20235 children at the elementary stage and 2700 children at the secondary stage. Free mid-day meals to all children up to class 8 as also free uniforms to students belonging to weaker sections of the society, besides free stationery to all tribal students, were given.

The teacher training institute continued to conduct B.Ed and J.B.T. courses. Under the adult education programme, 200 centres are functioning in the union territory. The present enrolment in these adult education centres is 4356 of which 2840 adults were enrolled during the year 1984.

The first State Sports Festival was organised in the union territory during the year. Science seminars, workshops and exhibitions were organised at dif- ferent places. Under the scheme of integrated education, teachers have been selected for undergoing the training and after completion of the training they will work as resource teachers for educating the disabled.

5. Arunachal Pradesh

In the year 1974, Arunachal Pradesh had only two primary schools and literacy rate was below 1%. By the end of 1984, the number of educational institutions has gone up to 1451 with a total enrolment of 108812. Of the total enrolment, the share of pre-primary, primary, middle, secondary and senior secondary stages is 6398, 78824, 16178, 5578 and 1834 respecti- vely.

Under the State Adult Education Programme, 290 centres; are function- ing which account for an enrolment of 6998. Under the rural functioning lite- racy project, 455 centres are functioning which account for an enrolment of 11932. The target of enrolment for 1984-85 for both these programmes has been fixed as 20,000.

There are only two degree colleges with the enrolment of 840. The foun- dation stone for the proposed North-Eastern Regional Institute of Science and Technology has already been laid by the President of India. Foundation stone of the proposed Arunachal University at Doimukh near Itanagar was laid in February, 1984 and the University will start functioning from the com- ing academic session.

Post-matric Arunachal Pradesh stipends as also post-matric centre scho- larships are being awarded to the students. The number of recipients of these awards during the year under review was 390. A number of incentives in the form of free textbooks, free stationery, school uniforms and mid-day meals are provided to students. The scheme for merit scholarships has also been introduced.

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areas (3800 beneficiaries), free supply of school uniforms (4167 beneficia- ries), free supply of textbooks (12,500 beneficiaries) are available to school children to serve as an incentive and educational aids. Schemes, such as, merit and open merit scholarships to scheduled caste students (491 benefi- ciaries) and remedial/special coaching for students of scheduled castes/ scheduled tribes and other weaker sections of society (1672 beneficiaries) and supply of exercise books (46,000,00) on concessional rates are in force.

At the middle stage, the number of schools is 346, at the secondary level 225 and at the senior secondary level 591. Each secondary school has a middle department and each senior secondary school has a middle as well as secondary department.

Great emphasis is laid on science education in schools. There is a science branch for looking after the needs of the schools. Television lessons are given through the T.V. branch of the Directorate of Education. A teachers' training institute is being run which prepares the teachers for pre-primary and prim- ary schools. The annual turn over of trained teachers is 100. A correspon- dence course school is also being run and the enrolment of this school during the year has been 14175.

Seventy two non-formal educational centres have been established and 2075 children have been enrolled in these centres. Under the National Adult Education Programme, 20 urban projects and one centrally sponsored project and rural functional literacy project are functioning. The main pur- pose of the scheme is to involve the community in the national programmes of development. At present, 78 social education centres are being run.