5.7.2 Efforts were made to start generation of indigenous software through NCERT and CMC. They succeeded in developing 14 packages which were supplied to schools alongwith other packages in 1987-88. CMC have developed key boards and ROMs in eleven languages so far, viz. Marathi, Oriya,

Telugu, Hindi, Tamil, Kannada, Malayalam, Gurumukhi, Gujarati, Bengali and Assamese. The work is continuing.

5.7.3 With a view To evaluating the Project experience, the Department of Electronics had en-trusted an evaluation study to the Space Application Centre, Ahmedabad. Their report indicated that the 'demystification' objective of the Project was only partially achieved.

5.7.4 To implement the project on a larger scale keeping in view the results of evaluation and experience gained so far for the remainder of the Seventh Plan, a proposal has been drawn up jointly by the Department of Electronics and the Department of Education aiming to cover 13,000 higher secondary schools all over the country, The total financial implications for this programme are estimated at Rs. 89.03 crores in the first year and Rs. 109.39 crores in the second year. The proposal has yet to be finally approved by the Government.

Navodaya Vidyalayas

5.8.1 In order to provide good quality modern education to the talented children predominantly from the rural areas, Government of India have launched a scheme to establish Novodaya Vidyalayas on an average one in each district. Two hundred and fifty six Navodaya Vidyalayas covering 22 States and 7 Union Territories have so far been established in the country.

5.8.2 Admission to Navodaya Vidyalayas is at the level of Class-VI. In view of the fact that most of the students so admitted would have been taught earlier through the medium of the mother-tongue/regional language, instruction is provided through the same medium upto Class- VI or VIII, during which time. intensive teaching of Hindi/English both as a language subject and co-media is undertaken. Thereafter, the common medium would be Hindi/ English. At this stage, there is a migration of 20% students from each Navodaya Vidyalaya to another Navodaya Vidyalaya, in a different linguistic region. The migration is mainly between Hindi and non-Hindi speaking districts. The first batch of students has migrated from Navodaya Vidyalaya, Jhajjar to Amravati and-vice versa, as these two Vidyalayas have reached Class-IX stage this year. The Navodaya Vidyalayas follow the normal three language formula. At present, there are 123 Vidayalayas in Hindi Speaking States and 133 in non-Hindi Speaking States and third language has been introduced in all these Vidyalayas.

Admission

5.8.3 The basis of admission to Navodaya Vidyalayas is a test conducted by NCERT. The medium of the test is the mother-tongue or regional language. Test is largely of non-verbal nature, class- neutral and so designed as to ensure that talented children from rural schools are able to compete without suffering a disadvantage.

5.8.4 The examination for Academic Session 1988-89 was conducted on 15.05.88 in all the districts where the Navodaya Vidyalayas are functioning. The test was conducted in 18 languages.

5.8.5 Break-up of the students selected for 256 Navodaya Vidyalayas is as follows:-

 
                
                          Rural               10934     Boys           11298
                          Urban                2870     Girls           2506
                                              13804     SC  -           2360
                                                        ST              1602
                                                        General         9842

5.8.6 Navodaya Vidyalayas are co-educational and primarily for children from rural areas. Hence admission of children from urban areas is restricted to a maximum of one-forth. Efforts are made to ensure that atleast one-third of, the students in each Novodaya Vidyalaya are girls.

5.8.7 Reservation of seats in favour of children belonging to the Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes is provided in proportion to their population in the concerned district, provided that in no district such reservation is less than the national average.

Construction Programme

5.8.8 The Central Building Research Institute, (CBRI) Roorkee, has been designated as the nodal agency for implementing the works programme for Navodaya Vidyalaya. For implementing the programme a Construction Co-ordination Committee has been set up in the Samiti. Twenty six Construction Agencies have been identified and Vidyalayas allotted to them. The Samiti has given clearance for construction of first phase of building (for classes VI to IX) in 100 Vidyalayas and of minimal structures with tubular trusses in 120 Vidyalayas.

Principals and Teachers

5.8.9 At the moment, 256 schools are functioning with 256 principals and 2719 teachers.

5.8.10 Since all Novodaya Vidyalayas are residential and located in remote areas, the following incentives have been provided to attract good teachers/Principals:

(i) Rent free, partly furnished, accommodation as available at site.

(ii) Children Education allowance at the rate of Rs. 150/- p.m. per child subject to a maximum of two children.

(iii) Free boarding facilities to House Masters and teachers staying with the students.

(iv) Free lunch to all teachers.

(v) Facility for the appointment of spouse as per Samiti's rule.

(vi) Admission of children in the Navodaya Vidyalayas where teachers are posted without admission test and free boarding facility to such children.

(vii) Teaching Allowance of Rs. 100/- p.m.

Provision of Vehicles to Navodaya Vidyalaya

5.8.11 There are some Vidyalayas which are very remotely placed and far away from the main road, market post office, bank etc. There are 60 Vidyalayas which have been identified so far and vehicles have been provided to them for official use.

Training Programme

5.8.12 Two In-service courses for Principals and ten In-service courses for various categories of teachers have been organised to acquaint them with the functioning of residential schools.

Significant Academic Activities

5.8.13- A seminar on developing curricular strategies for talented children was organised by Navodaya Vidyalaya Samiti in collaboration with NBT on 14-15 February, 1988 and as a follow up of this seminar, another workshop on 'Creative learning environment through non scholastic strategies' was organised on 22- 23 November, 1988.

- Curriculum enrichment programmetic is being conducted by the Samiti in Science, Mathematics & Social Studies. This enrichment of curriculum will be useful for the teachers and students of Navodaya Vidyalayas.

- Inter-regional Science & Social Science Exhibitions were organised by the regional offices of the Samiti.

open School

5.9.1 Open School established in 1979 by the Central Board of Secondary Education is marching ahead towards its goal for education to all who could not join regular schools due to economic, social and other constraints but are eager to enhance their educational qualifications. It is specifically emphasising to impart education to the school dropouts, women, working adults and other disadvantaged sections of the society.

Extensive Publicity Drive

5.9.2 During the year, about 36 advertisements were placed in National and Regional Newspapers all over the country to publicise Open School System among masses living in remote areas of the country. Publicity material was also sent to the Directorate of Education and Adult Education in States, affiliated schools of CBSE, sponsoring institutions and resource-cum-study centres of Open School to transmit them to other interested persons and agencies.

Strength of Students

5.9.3 Since its establishment in 1979, Open School was offering courses leading to the Secondary School Examination. To cater to the continuing education needs of those who have passed secondary examination, it introduced Sr. Sec. Courses in Science, Commerce and Humanities, as well as package Vocational Courses in Typewriting, Stenography and Secretarial Practice in the current year. 5,600 students have been enrolled for the purpose.

5.9.4 The first examination under the scheme was held in April, 1983. The enrolment has increased from 1634 in the first year to 17052 in 1987-88. During 1988-89, so far 18167 students have been enrolled and this figure is expected to go up to 20,000. The students once enrolled can remain for a maximum period of five years or till they clear all the five subjects. At present, there is a total cumulative enrolment of 57,337 students for secondary courses.

Publication

5.9.5 Open School publishes a number of booklets every year in form of despatches which is the study material of the students. In the year 1988-89 about 90 publications were brought out.

New Resource-cum-Study Centres

5.9.6 Open School organises personal contact programmes at its Resource-cum-Study Centres during 'the week ends and Holidays. Twenty one Resource-cum-Study Centres are already functioning for the purpose all over India, including those at Madras, Jaipur, Sikkim and Andaman & Nicobar Islands. A new centre at Calcutta is being opened now. In the year under report a new centre at Delhi was also established, namely, Mount Carmel School, Anand Niketan, New Delhi.

5.9.7 Besides Resource-cum-Study Centres, Open School accredits well established institutions for sponsoring candidates for Open School Courses and arranging contact classes for them on the lines of Resource-cum-Study Centres. Twenty four new institutions were accredited in 1988-89, thus making the total figure of 72 institutions.

5.9.8 A project report on National Open School has been prepared which is under examination. A decision on setting up the National Open School will be taken shortly.

Integrated Education for the disabled children

5.10.1 The National Policy on Education, 1986 lays emphasis on integrated education of disabled children with mild handicaps in common schools alongside the normal children with the objective of preparing such children for normal growth and to enable them to face life with courage and confidence. The old Scheme of Integrated Education for the Disabled Children has been thoroughly reviewed and revised during 1987-88 in the light of the guidelines given in the NPE and the Programme of Action prepared for implementation of the NPE. Under the scheme, 100% financial assistance is provided to the State Governments/UT Administrations/Voluntary Organisations for creating necessary facilities in the schools. Disabled children are given various kinds of facilities like books and stationery allowance, transport allowance, uniform allowance, readers allowance (for blind children), escort allowance (for severely orthopaedically-handicapped children with lower extremities disabilities), equipment allowances and hostel charges (wherever necessary). Besides, the scheme also provides for meeting the cost of salary and incentives for teachers, setting up of resource rooms and assessment rooms, training of teachers, removal of architectural barriers in schools, development and production of special instructional materials for disabled children, etc. Assistance is also given through UGC to selected universities/institutions for running training courses in special education for teachers of the handicapped children. Training facilities are provided by NCERT and Regional Colleges of Education.

5.10.2 The scheme is, at present, being implemented in 18 States and two Union Territories viz. Andhra, Pradesh, Bihar, Gujarat, Haryana, Himachal Pradesh, Karnataka, Kerala, Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra, Manipur, Mizoram, Nagaland, Orissa, Punjab, Rajasthan, Sikkim, Tamil Nadu, Uttar Pradesh, Delhi and A & N Islands. During the year 1987- 88, Central assistance amounting to Rs, 2.36 crores was sanctioned to various States/UTs and UGC.

Reimbursement of Tuition Fees charged from Girls in Classes IX-XII in all the States/UTs

5.11.1 The President of India in his Address to the joint Session of the Parliament had announced on 17th January, 1985 that girls' education upto class XII will be made free' throughout the country. In pursuance of this, a scheme for reimbursement of tuition fees charged from girls at secondary/senior secondary stage of education in Government/ Government Aided/Local Body schools to the States/UTs was formulated. The year 1982-83 has been taken as cut off year under this scheme.

5.11.2 The scheme was effective from 1.4.1985 and will remain in operation for the entire period of the seventh Five Year Plan.

Educational Concessions to the Children of Officers and Men of Armed Forces killed or disabled during Hostilities

5.12.1 The Central Government and most of the State Governments and Union Territories continued to offer educational concessions to the children of defence personnel and paramilitary forces killed or permanently disabled during Indo-China hostilities in 1962 and Indo- Pakistan hostilities in 1965 and 1971.

5.12.2 These concessions have been extended to the children of IPKF/CRPF personnel who were killed/disabled during action in Sri Lanka and to the children of Armed Forces personnel killed/disabled in action in Operation Meghdoot in Siachen Area.

5.12.3 In the year 1987-88, 16 students availed of such concessions.

Promotion of Yoga

5.13.1 Taking cognizance of potentialities of yoga in promotion of physical fitness, the Ministry of Human

Resource Development has been implementing, since the Second Five-Year Plan a Scheme for Promotion of Yoga as a part of Ministry's over-all programme for development of physical education in the country. The scheme provides for financial assistance to yoga institutions of all- India character for maintenance as well as developmental expenditure on promotion of basic research and/or for teacher training programmes in the various aspects of Yoga other than the therapeutical aspects. Financial assistance to Yoga institutions for promotion of yoga therapeutical aspects is being extended by the Ministry of Health & Family Welfare.

5.13.2 The Kaivalyadhama Shriman Madhava Yoga Mandir Samiti, Lonavala (Pune), continues to be assisted under the scheme, both. for its maintenance and developmental expenditure for research and teacher training programme.

5.13.3 Yoga was introduced in Kendriya Vidyalayas on an experimental basis as a separate-subject for a period of one year in 1981-82. The experiment has since been evaluated and the KVS has decided to teach yoga in all KVs on regular basis. In the light of the directives of NPE, it is proposed to introduce yoga in schools on a fairly large scale. Accordingly, it has been decided to start a Centrally sponsored scheme for assisting schools and training institutions from 1988-89