Universalisation of pre-primary education is the goal of the Union Territory. Under the scheme it is envisaged to improve the non-formal, pre- primary education to children in the age group of 3-6 years. Two ashramshalas have also been constructed for providing educational facilities to tribal children who will be provided with free boarding and lodging.

Under the adult education programme, 308 centres have been opened with an enrolment of 589 adults.

Mid-day meals are provided to school going children of the age group of 6-1 1 years. Education is free in the Union Territory from Classes I to X to all the students. Education is also free to students in Classes XI and XI I to those students whose, parent's annual income is up to Rs. 4,800 per annurn. 9230 girl students were given monetary incentives whereas 6030 students will be granted financial aid during the period under report.

6. PONDICHERRY

Though no major changes have been introduced in the educational system during 1982-83 in the Union Territory of Pondicherry, Department of Education has taken all possible steps to achieve the physical target set out under various schemes and necessary steps have been taken for the provision of bet-ter educational facilities to all specially those belonging to the weaker sections of the society and for those in rural are-as. At the elementary stag,, of education the additional enrolment achieved in the age groups of 6-11

and 11-14 was 1,18,969. At the secondary stage the, enrolment of students is 13,506 and at the higher secondary stage two higher secondary schools have been opened. The enrolment of students in the higher secondary school is 4,208.

Under university education, the courses already opened so far have been consolidated and maintained with improvement to the, existing facilities. Apart from this, one new course in M.A. Economics has been started. There are two technical institutions offering courses in technical education.

To ensure cent per cent achievement in the target fixed, incentive schemes namely supply of mid-day-meals to poor children studying in classes I to V, free supply of textbooks and stationery has been taken in hand. The poor children are also being supplied uniforms free. Poor girls studying in the middle schools are awarded scholarships at the rate of Rs. 20 per mouth, the number of beneficiaries is 500. Under a new scheme of awards of retention scholarship to Scheduled Caste/Scheduled Tribe students in primary schools, scholarships are being given to, ensure, the attendance in the, schools. To, help the poor and meritorious students to enable them to prosecute higher studies, 150 awards of Pondicherry State Post-Matric Scholarships, 3 awards of National Scholarships to, children of teachers and 18 awards of National Loan Scholarships are being sanctioned. Political sufferers scholarships scheme is also continued. In addition to, the above, it is proposed to award 50 scholarships to students prosecuting technical and professional courses every year.

To enable the students of Union Territory to prosecute higher studies 59 seats in engineering faculty, 20 seats in agriculture faculty and 43 seats in other general education courses have been obtained from the neighbouring State for students, since such courses are not offered in the college of the Union Territory.

Physical education is made compulsory in all the schools. Physical education schemes are being continued.

All the 148 centres opened during 1978-79 for adult education are maintained.

Under the scheme of scouts and guides, three additional scout troops, one guide company and two cub packs have been introduced. Under the Bal Bhavan, Pondicherry, 1010 children have been enrolled as members during the year.

All out efforts are made by the Administration to see that there are no drop-outs and no wastage at the primary level.

7. DADRA AND NAGAR HAVELI

There are 141 Government Primary Schools and 14 Government Aided Mission Primary Schools and I Unaided Mission Primary School in the Union Territory. The total enrolment in the Primary Schools (Standard I to VIII) is 16,962. Six high schools are) located in different parts of the Union Territory. The total enrolment in the Primary Schools (Standard Naroli. There is one Aided Mission High School at Khanvel. The total enrolment in the High Schools and Higher Secondary is 1893. Vocational and technical as well as agricultural subjects have also been introduced in the 4 High schools.

Free education is provided up to High Secondary stage. Mid-day-meals are being provided to all the students in pre-primary and primary schools. In addition to this, notebooks and stationery items are being supplied free to all the Scheduled Castes/Scheduled Tribes and other economically backward communities. Students belonging to Scheduled Castes/Scbeduled Tribes are also being provided with, a pair of uniform free of cost.

During the, year under report cash awards will be, granted to students for regular attendance and merit in annual examinations. Scholarships have also been awarded to talented students belonging to Scheduled Caste/Scheduled Tribe students in the age group of 11-17 years. To enable the bright students to pursue higher studies in nearby States, National Scholarship is

being given to the students. Seats have been reserved for students of this Territory for pursuing various diploma and degree courses in colleges/institutions located in other States. In the 9 social welfare hostels for boys and girls students belonging to Scheduled Caste/Scheduled Tribe and economically backward cormmunities are provided with free board and lodging facilities.

8. LAKSHADWEEP

Facility for primary school education exists in all the habitable islands of Lakshadweep. During 1982-83 the enrolment at the primary stage has reached 9,215. In the secondary schools in the Union Territory there has been an appreciable rise in the number of students.

Education is free in the, islands at all levels. Textbooks and stationery are being supplied to all school-going children. Free mid- day-meals are supplied to students in nursery, primary and middle schools. In High schools and colleges, scholarships are also being awarded to the Students. In the case of students staying in the Government hostel, mess charges are met by the Administration. For higher studies for which facilities are not available in the islands, seats are reserved for the students in the institutions on the mainland and the students selected to pursue higher studies a are paid scholarships, lump-sum, grant and other educational concessions by the Administration. Vocational education is also being imparted in the high schools. Adequate attention is being paid to sports and other activities. Boy scouts and girl guides units are also there in the islands.

9. MIZORAM

Significant progress has been made in the field of education in the Union Territory of Mizoram. The enrolment of students at the primary, middle and secondary stages is continually increasing. There are 803 primary schools, 360 middle schools (including 65 unaided middle schools), 141 high schools (including 14 unaided high schools), 12 colleges (including unaided colleges). The intake capacity of the Teachers Training Institute has also been increased and in the Institute, for Training of Hindi Teachers, Hindi B.Ed. has also been opened to facilitate training of the Hindi teachers for High schools.

The main thrust is on the universalisation of elementary education comprising education for the age group of 6 to 14 years. The new pattern of education has been introduced in Mizoram from 1982- 83 in the elementary education specially at the middle and primary school levels. With the implementation of new pattern of education, heavy incidence of wastage and stagnation in primary schools is now gradually minimised as a result of introducing age restriction (6 plus) in the lower classes.

Adequate attention is being paid for improvement and re-organisation of science education. Various programmes of activities have been taken up which include supply of improved textbooks, supply of textbooks, training of science teachers, Organisation of science seminars, science fairs, supervisory work, etc.

The Department has taken up schemes for non- formal education for children in the age group of 9-14 years and so far 20 non-formal education centres have been opened with the target enrolment of 2,000 for the current year.

Great stress is being laid on the training of teachers in the various teacher training institutes. The intake capacity of the Institute for Graduate Teachers. Training has been increased from 100 to 110. Steps are also being taken to clear the backlog of untrained primary and middle school teachers.

Facility for physical education, sports and other allied activities are also being increased. The scouts and guides movement has also been given considerable importance amongst the programmes for youth activities.

Merit scholarships for post-matric students (15 in number) and scholarships stipend for post- matric Education and Research Fellowship (6 for each) are being awarded to the meritorious students. Mere is a proposal for provincialisation of aided Aizwal College (enrolment 1600). The existing colleges and Polytechnic offer limited opportunities to students desirous of seeking higher education.