OTHER ACTIVITIES
Policy and Approach The pressing problems in the field of education in India are (i) spread of
literacy and (ii) universalisation of elementary education. The Sixth Plan lays
emphasis on minimum essential education to all citizens irrespective of their
age, sex and residence. Highest priority has, therefore, been assigned to the
programmes of universalisation of elementary education for the children of
age group 6-14 and literacy for adults in the age group 15-35. These pro-
grammes are included in the Minimum Needs Programme and the new 20-
Point Programme, which set a target date of 1990 for the realisation of these
objectives. The programmes are basically implemented by the State Govern-
ments; the Education Ministry monitors these programmes through quar-
terly returns and special returns on the-progress achieved by the State
Governments.
Conferences of State The Conferences of State Education Secretaries and Education Ministers
Education Secretaries and of all States & Union Territories were held on May 23 & 24, 1984 at Vigyan
Education Ministers of Bhawan, New Delhi. The salient issues which were discussed in the Confe-
all States and Union rences are: Universalisation of Elementary Education, Review of achieve-
Territories ment under the Adult Education Programme, Implementation of 10+2+3
pattern of education, Vocationalisation of Education, Introduction of Com-
puter Education in Schools, Utilisation of INSAT-1B for Education, Educati-
onal facilities for Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes, Management of
universities and improvement of standards and innovative development.
Assistance for Studies in Under the scheme, financial assistance is given to the universities/
Educational Policies, Planning, deemed universities/institutions of higher learning, voluntary organisations
Management and Evaluation and SCERTs connected with education for action-oriented studies on prob-
lems or "Topics" which have a direct bearing on policy, planning and mana-
gement of educational system. It is a Central Plan Scheme and is implement-
ed directly by the Ministry of Education.
The assistance under the scheme covers salaries and allowances, TA/DA
for project staff, stationery and printing, hiring of office equipment and con-
tingencies, including postage charges. A Screening Committee, comprising
inter-departmental officers, selects/approves "Topics"/Research Studies
which are to be undertaken every year. The ceiling of Government assistance
per project/study is Rs. 50,000/- Seven Research Studies on a variety of
subjects have been commissioned and 14 more are likely to be commis-
sioned during 1984-85.
National Institute of The National Institute of Educational Planning and Administration (for-
Educational Planning merly the National Staff College for Educational Planners and Administra-
and Administration tors) is an autonomous institution set up and fully financed by the Gover-
nment of India in the Ministry of Education and Culture. It is registered as a
Society under the Societies Registration Act XXI of 1860 in December,
111
1970. As the apex training institute in India for educational planners- and
administrators, its main functions are training, research and administration.
The main activities undertaken by the Institute include: Training and reorien-
tation of senior educational administrators from the Centre and the States,
according to their needs and background; Research in problems of educati-
onal planning and administration; Consultancy and extension services in this
field to the States and other organisations; Seminars, workshops and confe-
rences on themes of topical interest in educational planning and administra-
tion; and provision of training & research facilities to other countries spe-
cially of Asian region.
During the year under report, NIEPA conducted 28 workshops and train-
ing programmes up to December, 1984. Ten more programmes are due to
be organised up to March, 1985. Eighteen Research Studies were completed,
some of which were: Regional Disparities in Educational Development - an
Atlas of Indian Education; a Study on Mobilization of Resources for Educa-
tion in India; a Study on Optimum Teacher-Pupil Ratio for Schools; Study for
Developing a Model Account Code for the University System; Social Back-
ground, Living Conditions and Academic Performance of Post-Matric Scho-
larship Holders belonging to Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes. About
20 more research studies are under progress.
Development of Computerlsed The Ministry has concluded an agreement with the National Informatics
Management Information Centre (Department of Electronics) for developing Computerised Manage-
System for the Ministry ment information System. In this context, NIC has installed a Mini Computer
of Education Terminal in the Ministry. This Terminal works in conjunction with the Maxi
Computer of the National Informatics Centre, as part of its network.
Seventh Five-Year Monitoring of Point 16 of the New 20-Point Programme relating to uni-
Plan and Annual Plan versalisation of elementary education and adult education continued to be a
special responsibility of the Ministry. The Bureau of Planning, Monitoring &
Statistics of the Ministry submitted periodical reports to the Planning Com-
mission and Prime Minister's Office after collecting the requisite information
from various States/Union Territories. The progress of Adult Education and
Universalisation of Elementary Education was reviewed in the four Regional
Conferences of Education Secretaries of States/Union Territories under the
Chairmanship of Union Education Secretary held on September 13 & 14,
1984 at Calcutta, September 18 & 19, 1984 at Bhopal, September 25 & 26,
1984 at Bangalore and September 28 & 29, 1984 at Shimla. In addition, it
continued to discharge its functions of coordination of Annual and Five Year
Educational Plans and monitoring progress of implementation of the
schemes in the Central and State Sectors. In the light of the report of the
Working Group on Monitoring & Evaluation for Education, it is proposed to
strengthen the monitoring, evaluation and statistical machinery. Accor-
dingly, special provisions are being made in the Seventh Plan and in the
Annual Plan 1985-86 both in the Central and State Sectors.
In the Annual Plan for 1984-85 a sum of Rs. 853.37 crores (comprising
Rs. 2 13.65 crores in the Central Sector and Rs. 639.72 crores in the State
Sector) was provided for development of various sectors of Education. This
plan outlay constituted 2.84 percent of the total plan outlay of all the sectors,
112
1.23 percent of the Central Sector and 5.06 percent of the State Sector. On
Education, the proportion of 1984-85 plan outlay to the total Sixth Plan out-
lay worked out to be 33.81 percent (29.1% in the Central Sector and 35.76%
in the State Sector).
In the Seventh Plan for 1985-90, a provision of Rs. 6000.00 crores has
been proposed which constitutes 5% of the total outlay for all sectors. For
1985-86, a provision for Rs. 1000 crores (including 300 crores for the Cen-
tral Sector and 700 crores for the State Sector) has been made for Education
which works out to 5 percent of the outlay for all sectors.
Analysis of Budgeted Expenditure on Education 1981-82 to 1983-84
was brought out during the year under report.
Note: The allocation of Seventh Five-Year Plan and Annual Plan 1985-86
are tentative.
Supply of white printing The Scheme for allocation of white printing paper at the controlled rate to
paper at controlled rate State Governments and Union Territories has been continued during the
for educational purposes year under report. The price of the white printing paper has been revised
from Rs. 5400/- per tonne to Rs. 6400/- per tonne with effect from May 11,
1984. Consequent to the revision of price of paper, the prices of exercise
books were also refixed.
About 1,48,000 tonnes of paper has been allotted to the States/Union
Territories for educational purposes during the year 1984-85.
Import of Gift Paper Under the bilateral agreement with the Government of Norway, commod-
from Norway ity assistance of paper worth 2.50 crores is expected to be received during
1984-85. Paper worth 1.56 crores has been received. The entire paper is
allotted to National Council of Educational Research and Training, New
Delhi for the printing of School textbooks.
Educational Statistics The Ministry has initiated action to implement as many as 35 recommen-
dations made by the High Level Committee to review the system of educati-
onal statistics in the country. Some of the important recommendations in
which action has been initiated are as follows:
a) Organisation of Fifth All India Education Survey by NCERT.
b) Modification of forms for collection of Educational statistics to meet
the demand of various user organisations.
c) To introduce a system of collection of data in respect of recognised
non-formal courses like Chartered Accountancy, AMIE, Cost
Accountancy, Company Secretary etc.
d) Strengthening of statistical machinery in the Ministry.
e) To undertake a pilot project on 'Computerisation of educational sta-
tistics in Uttar Pradesh.
The ninth meeting of the Standing Committee on educational statistics
113
was held on September 11, 1984 under the Chairmanship of Shri P.K. Pat- naik, Joint Secretary. One of the major items discussed by the Committee related to review of existing progress made in regard to implementation of the recommendations of the High Level Committee on Educational Statis- tics. It was also decided that 1983 be taken as a cut off year to reduce the time-lag in respect of publications on educational statistics.
A large number of statistical enquiries both from National and Internati- onal Organisations were attended to. Necessary material and other statistical data was supplied to the National Commission on Teachers as per their requirements. The card giving important educational statistics at the country level entitled 'Selected Statistical Information on Education' was up-dated and got reprinted for the year 1984.
The following reports/publications were brought out during 1984-85:
1. A Hand Book of Educational & Allied Statistics - 1983
2. Education in India - Volume (II) 1976-77
3. Directory of Institutions for Higher Education 1979-80
4. Educational Statistics District-wise 1976-77 Volume (XXI) - (i) Orissa, (ii) Volume (XIX) - Kerala
5. Progress of Education of Scheduled Castes/Scheduled Tribes 1978-79
6. Selected Information on School Education 1981-82
7. Foreign Students in Indian Universities 1977-78 to 1980-81
8. Trends of Educational Developments of Scheduled Castes/Sche- duled Tribes in India 1967-68 to 1977-78
9. Indian Students/Trainees Going Abroad 1978-79
Education of Scheduled Castes Special Component Plan for Scheduled Castes and Tribal Sub-Plan for
and Scheduled Tribes Scheduled Tribes for the year 1985-86 has been prepared for the Ministry.
18% and 10% of the total divisible outlay have been earmarked for these two
component Plans respectively out of the total divisible outlay for the Annual
Plan for the year 1985-86.
A Working Group has been set up for the preparation of Special Compon-
ent Plan and Tribal Sub-Plans. The Group is to identify schemes which pro-
vide direct benefit to these weaker sections of our society. The Group would
help earmarking of funds under these Plans and also fix targets to be
achieved both for the Annual Plan and Seventh Five-Year Plan.
A statistical folder on Education of Scheduled Castes and Scheduled
Tribes has been prepared which gives details of educational development of
Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes.
Material is being collected for publication of a brochure on educational
114
facilities provided to Scheduled Castes/Scheduled Tribes by the Centre and
State Governments and for publication of State-wise statistics on Education
of Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes.
Under the Adult Education Programme, targets have been fixed State-
wise for enrolment of Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes during the cur-
rent year. Under the Rural Functional Literacy Project, separate budget
heads have been opened for Special Component Plan and Tribal Sub-Plan
since 1984-85.
At the instance of the Ministry, Universities have submitted proposals for
opening of coaching centres for Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes for
admission on higher level competitions, namely, Central Civil Services, Pro-
bationary Officers for banks etc. These proposals are being processed by the
Ministry of Home Affairs.
National Commissions The two National Commissions on Teachers that were set-up in February
on Teachers 1983 to advise the Government on various aspects relevant to the teaching
community as specified in the terms of reference were required to submit
their reports within one year commencing from the date of their first meeting
that was held on March, 26, 1983. The life of the Commissions was further
extended by the Government up to September 30, 1984. As the tasks
assigned to them were heavy and required careful considerations for sorting
out, sifting and analysing the vast data at their disposal, the Commissions
requested for further extension up to December 31, 1984. An interim report
was submitted by the Commission on June 25, 1984. The final reports of the
two Commissions whose term was further extended are expected to be ready
before the end of the financial year.
Education of Minorities The Ministry of Education has taken a number of steps for educational
development of minorities. These are:
(i) University Grants Commission has initiated a scheme of coaching
classes for educationally beckward minorities to prepare them for
admission to Civil Service Examinations and other recruitments at
the all India level. Nineteen universities and 15 colleges have been
given grants under this scheme.
(ii) Ten polytechnics have been selected under the scheme of Com-
munity Polytechnics to impart training in various skills/trades to
the youth belonging to minority communities through short-term
training courses. Each of these community polytechnics would have
4 extension centres at suitable minority concentration pockets.
(iii) Textbooks are being reviewed from the stand point of national inte-
gration. Work of revision of textbooks and/or preparation of new
textbooks has been completed in the States of Andhra Pradesh,
Bihar, Gujarat, Haryana, Himachal Pradesh, Jammu & Kashmir,
Karnataka, Uttar Pradesh, Maharashtra, Orissa, Punjab, Rajasthan,
Tamil Nadu, Tripura, Madhya Pradesh, Delhi, Goa, Daman & Diu
and Mizoram. Evaluation of textbooks in other States is in progress.
(iv) National Council of Educational Research and Training has taken