INTRODUCTION
 

I was deputed by the Government of India to attend the Fourth International Colloquy on Teacher Education organised by the Government of German Democratic Republic at Gustrow from 22nd August to 5th September, 1969. At the request of the Government of India, the Government of GDR. were kind enough to agree that I should extend my stay in their country for about a fortnight or so to study the polytechnical educational system after the Colloquy. Therefore, soon after the conclusion of the Fourth International Colloquy at Gustrow on 6th September, 1969, I understood the study of polytechnical education in the GDR from 6th September to 20th September, 1969.

During the Fourth International Colloquy at Gustrow, we got an opportunity of knowing the basic principles governing the system of polytechnical education through lectures delivered by eminent educationists of the GDR, visits to various types of educational institutions and discussions with working educationists. During my stay in the GDR from 6th September, 1969 to 20th September, 1969, I visited a number of institutions in Berlin, Potsdam, Ludwigsfelde, Bad Berka, Erfurt, Arnstadt. I had discussions with the Head of the House of Publishers, key officers of the Ministry of Education, experts of the German Pedagogical Central Institute, Berlin, GDR. Planning Commission, Vice-Rector and other members of the staff of the Pedagogical University, Potsdam, Director of Institute of Further Teacher Education, Ludwigsfelde and Central Institute of Planning and Guidance of Education, Potsdam, Principles and staff of polytechnical centres or cabinet, polytechnical secondary schools, vocational training schools, extended

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secondary schools, colleges for engineers of gardening, general vocational training schools etc. In conclusion, I had detailed discussions with Dr. Machack, Deputy Minister of Education, GDR and his deputies. The detailed programme of discussions and visits may be seen at Appendix I.

On the basis of the literature supplied by the GDR Government, information-made available by various organisations and institutions, discussions with leading educationists, key administrators, university men, heads of institutions, teachers and students and visits to a large number of educational institutions, a brief report has been prepared. and is submitted.

The report has been divided into five sections. Section I deals with historical retrospect, tracing briefly the evolution of the polytechnical educational system or work experience in the GDR. Section II deals with polytechnical education in general high schools. Section II deals with polytechnical education in extended secondary schools. This report deals mainly with the system of polytechnical education or work experience in the schools of the German Democratic Republic. No attempt was made during my stay in the GDR to study vocational education in detail. However, on the basis of visits to a few institutions and study of some material, some references to vocational training have been made in Section IV. Section V of the report gives some broad impressions gathered during the visit about the various aspects of the problems relating to polytechnical education in the GDR.

I will be failing in my duty if I do not express my sincere and grateful thanks to the GDR Government, their Central Ministry of Education, the various heads of institutions, their members of staffs and students for extending all possible facilities and cooperation to me which enabled me to

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survey the system of polytechnical education in the GDR. Throughout my tour, I received utmost consideration and full cooperation from everyone. All efforts were made to make available to me the information which I required and the discussions with various people were free and frank. I was deeply impressed by the facilities provided to me during my tour and the readiness with which all possible details were explained to me.

                                      
                                                     S. N. SARAF
        New Delhi
        October 31, 1969.