APPENDIX `C' MEMORANDUM ON ITEM 5 : MEASURES FOR IMPROVING STANDARDS OF EDUCATION AT THE ELEMENTARY STAGE
During the first three Plans the main emphasis in regard to elementary education has been on the expansion of enrolment so as to cover all the children in the age-group 6-11. While this accent will have to continue in future especially in areas which have not yet reached near the target of universal education for this age-group it is appropriate at this stage to stress also the urgent need for qualitative improvement. There is an in-built contradiction in aiming simultaneously at large scale quantitive increase and also at qualitative improvement, but unless the latter is also adequately emphasized, the real object of the programme cannot be achieved. Therefore, expansion and qualitative improvement will have to be attempted side by side, with an increasing emphasis on programmes calculated to improve standards. Moreover, while all the schools have to be improved so as to reach a reasonably satisfactory standard, a selected number of these may have to be developed as schools of higher quality so that talented children all over the country receive better attention than can be given in an average schools.
2. The following are illustratively mentioned as programmes for achieving improvement of standards :
(1) Improvement in the professional efficiency of teachers through training-both pre-service and in-service.
(2) Provision of improved syllabi (including principles of basic education and science orientation) textbooks, equipment and teaching aids.
(3) Development of the State Institute of Education which have been started recently in all the States.
(4) Attracting better personnel to the teaching profession by improved emoluments and conditions of service.
(5) A reasonable pupil-teacher ratio.
(6) Development of School Health programmes-
(7) Improvement in school buildings and environments including space for playgrounds etc.
3. The Board may consider the present position and advise regarding the following points :
(1) The extent of emphasis on improvement of standards of education in particular with the limited resources available. If
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there is a conflict between quantitative expansion and quali- tative standards how should the two requirements be balanced so as to ensure that qualitative improvement is not com- pletely sacrificed for the sake of meeting the needs of expansion.
(2) What should be the content of qualitative improvement schemes to be attempted in (a) all schools (b) selected schools.
(3) What percentage of schools should be developed as selected schools. The mid-Plan Appraisal suggested that this percentage should be about 10. The numbers of estimated schools in each State at the end of III Plan may be seen in Annexure VI.
(4) Suggestions if any in regard to the quick development of the State Institutes of Education.
ANNEXURE VI
Number of Elementary Schools at the end of the Third Plan.
Primary Middle
Schools Schools
Sl.
No. Name of the State/Union Territory 1965-66 1965-66
1 Andhra Pradesh 36,028 1,176
2 Assam 20,742 2,549
3 Bihar 45,000 5,400
4 Gujarat 14,372 7,053
5 Jammu & Kashmir 4,852 835
6 Kerala 7,449 2,199
7 Madhya Pradesh 41,000 3,700
8 Madras 26,149 684
9 Maharashtra 30,120 14,460
10 Mysore 25,511 5,095
11 Orissa 23,747 1,511
12 Punjab 12,989 1,692
13 Rajasthan 18,956 1,705
14 Uttar Pradesh 63,559 4,440
15 West Bengal 32,000 3,150
16 A. & N. Islands 116 9
17 Delhi 977 338
18 Himachal Pradesh 11,500 200
19 Manipur 2,011 375
20 Nagaland 676 92
21 Tripura 1,389 143
22 L. M. & A. Islands 8 11
23 N. E. F. A. 187 22
24 Pondicherry 314 71
Total 409,652 56,910
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