V. REPORT OF THE MEETING OF STANDING COMMITTEE OF THE CABE ON HIGHER EDUCATION-(INCLUDING SCIENCE EDUCATION AND RESEARCH) HELD ON AUGUST 19 AND 20, 1967 AT VIGYAN BHAVAN.
A meeting of the Standing Committee of the Central; Advisory Board of Education on Higher Education was held on August 19 and 20, 1967 at Vigyan Bhavan, New Delhi. The following were present :
(i) Shri Karpoori Thakur
Deputy Chief Minister, Bihar Chairman
(ii) Shri Barkatullah Khan
Education Minister, Rajasthan
(iii) Shri Hardwari Lal
Education Minister, Haryana
(iv) Shri C. M. Mohammed Koya
Education Minister, Kerala
(v) Shri D. S. Gupta
Education Minister, Madhya Pradesh
(vi) Shri Upendra Nath Verma
State Minister of Education, Bihar
(vii) Shri Ram Krishan Gupta, M.P.
(viii) Shri B. N. Shastri, M.P.
(ix) Dr. D. M. Sen
Vice-Chancellor
University of Burdwan, West Bengal
(x) Dr. Mohan Sinha Mehta, Rajasthan
(xi) Dr. B. N. Prasad
Chairman, Commission for Scientific
and Technical Terminology
(xii) Shri S. Rajaram
Director of Technical Education
Government of Kerala
(xiii) Shri G. P. Pandey
Ministry of Education Secretary
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The following officers also attended:
(i) Shri Prem Kirpal
Secretary, Ministry of Education
(ii) Shri G. K. Chandiramani
Additional Secretary
Ministry of Education
(iii) Shri J. P. Naik
Adviser, Ministry of Education
(iv) Shri A. B. Chandiramani
Joint Educational Adviser, Ministry of Education
(v) Dr. P., D. Shukla
Joint Educational Adviser, Ministry of Education
(vi) Shri K. L. Joshi
Secretary, University Grants Commission
(vii) Shri M. Alam,
Education Secretary, Govt. of Bihar
(viii) Shri N. Ramesan
Education Secretary
Government of Andhra Pradesh
(ix) Shri M. H. Rao
Education Secretary
Government of Madhya Pradesh
(x) Shri R. K. Talwar
Education Secretary
Government of Uttar Pardesh
(xi) Shri O. P. Gautam
Deputy Director General (Edn.)
I.C.A.R.
(xii) Shri L. Bullayyan
Director of Higher Education
Government of Andhra Pradesh
(xiii) Shri T. R. Das
Director of Technical Education
Government of Andhra Pradesh
(xiv) Shri Santa Prasad
Deputy Director of Education
Government of Bihar
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(xv) Shri O. P. Srivastava
Deputy Director of Education
Government of Bihar
(xvi) Dr. S. N. Mehrotra
Deputy Secretary (Education)
Government of Uttar Pradesh
(xvii) Dr. B. Samantrai
Director of Public Instruction, Orissa
(xviii) Shri J. L. Azad
Assistant Chief, Planning Commission
(xix) Shri R. S. Chitkara
Deputy Educational Adviser
Ministry of Education
(xx) Shri Triyogi Narain
Under Secretary
Ministry of Education
2. The Committee considered the recommendations on Higher Education, including science education and research agriculture and technology, of the Education Commission, as also those of the Committee of Members of Parliament on Education (1967). The Committee generally agreed with the principles underlying the recommendations contained in the two reports and welcomed the suggestion for a National Policy on Education.
3. The Committee would like to stress that it is important and urgent to improve and expand the existing system of education in order to strengthen national unity, promote social integration, accelerate economic growth and general moral, social and spiritual values. For achieving these objectives appropriate steps will have to be taken by the Central and State Governments to organize programmes at all stages of education.
Strengthening National Unity 4. The Committee agreed with the following recommendations of the Committee of Members of Parliament :
(i) Education should deepen national consciousness, promote a proper understanding and appreciation of our cultural heritage and inspire a faith and confidence in the great future which we can forge for ourselves. These objectives should be achieved
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by a carefully planned study of Indian languages, literature, philosophy and history and by introducing students to India's achievements in the positive sciences, architecture, sculpture, painting. music, dance and drama.
(ii) All students should be Oven appropriate. courses in citizenship which emphasize the fundamental unity of India in the midst of her rich diversity. These should include a study of the Freedom Struggle, the Constitution, the noble principles enshrined in its Preamble, the problems and programmes of national development.
(iii) National and social service, including participation in meaningful and challenging programmes of community service or national reconstruction, should be made an integral part of education at all stages, and suitable projects for this purpose should be designed and carried out in the context of local conditions and available resources.
(iv) Efforts should be made to promote greater knowledge understanding and appreciation of the different regions of India by including their study in the curricula; by the exchange of students and teachers and by giving them opportunities and facilities for educational and study tours; and by the maintenance of all India institutions which bring together students from different regions.
(v) Curricular and co-curricular programmes should include the study of humanism based on mutual appreciation of international cultural values and the growing solidarity of mankind.
Neighbourhood School 5. With a view to achieving national integration and social unity equal and adequate opportunities should be provided for all sections of society by improving the existing system of primary schools which should be within the easy teach of every school going child. The `community school' concept should be adopted as a long term goal to be reached through a phased programme. Some members were, however, of the opinion that the Commission's recommendation regarding neighbourhood school should be implemented immediately.
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Adoption of Indian languages as Media of Education 6. The Committee agreed that the regional languages should be the media of instruction at the higher stages of education. In order to achieve this objective, concerted efforts should be made to produce within 5 years the requisite literature and textbooks required for this programme in all subjects. Divergent views were, however expressed regarding fixation of a time limit for change over to the regional languages.
There was general agreement that in All-India Institutions the medium of instruction should be Hindi and English. Education Minister Kerala however, expressed his view that in addition to English and Hindi facilities should also be provided for instruction in the language of the region in which the Institute was situated.
Science Education and Research and Education for Agriculture and
Industry 7. The recommendations, of the Education Commission in regard to Science Education & Research and Education for Agriculture and Industry were accepted.
Work Experience 8. The Committee felt that the concept of work experience should be extended to higher stages of education also as recommended by the Education Commission. For implementing this programme suitable guidelines should be prepared and necessary funds provided.
Structure of Education 9. The Committee accepted the recommendations of the State Education Ministers' Conference, April 1967 (Appendix) with regard to the structure of the educational system.
Selective Admissions 10. The Committee agreed with the recommendations of the Education Commission regarding selective admissions to Universities. Adequate arrangements should, however, be made for strengthening the existing school system and adequate vocational and technical courses in the post-school stage provided to equip students for gainful occupation in life. These steps would divert a large number of students who normally seek admission to universities.
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Teacher : Status and Education 11. The Committee were in full agreement that urgent steps should be taken for improving the status and conditions of service of teachers as recommended by the Education Commission.
12. The Committee also agreed that teachers should have freedom to pursue and publish their studies and researches and to speak and write about significant national and international issues. They should not, however, participate in active politics and elections, except where there is specific provision for teachers' constituencies under the Constitution. Some members were, however, of the view that the recommendations made by the Education Commission and the Committee of Members of Parliament on Education on this subject should be accepted.
Financial Assistance to States 13. The Standing Committee are conscious that it will not be possible to achieve the educational revolution envisaged by the Education Commission unless a much higher priority is given to education and adequate finances are provided for the purpose. The resources of the State Governments are far too inadequate to implement the programmes of educational reforms. As such the Central Government must come forward in a big way to assist the States in this task. The Committee strongly urge upon the Central Government to allocate adequate finances to meet the challenge of educational reforms.
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APPENDIX TO ANNEXURE V
Resolution of the State Education Ministers' Conference
April, 1967 on Structure of Educational System The Conference considered the structure of the educational system recommended by the Education Commission and the various comments thereon received from the State Governments and others. It recommends the following pattern for general adoption:
(1) The educational structure should have the pattern of 10-2-3.
(2) The ten years school (to be designated as the High School) should be adopted in all States. This will provide a common programme of general education and specialisation will be postponed till after Class X. The standard to be reached at the end of this course would broadly be similar to that which is reached at the school leaving stage at present.
(3) The division of this stage into sub-stages should not be rigid and freedom may be permitted to the States to adopt a sub-division most in keeping with local conditions and traditions.
(4) The next stage of two years (to be designated as the higher secondary stage) should include two years of general education. The vocational courses at this stage (these would broadly cover 50% of the total enrolment) would be spread over varying durations (1-3 years) depending upon the nature of the course concerned. The general education courses at this stage may be located to begin with, in selected secondary schools or attached to colleges.
The vocational courses at this stage will ordinarily be provided in special institutions which will, where necessary, work in close collaboration with the industry concerned. The experiment of `Junior Colleges' which will provide both general and vocational courses at this stage may also be tried.
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(5) There should be an attempt to define national standards to be reached at the end of the 10 year school of general education and again at the end of the 12 year school of gemera; edicatopm. The different States should try to reach these standards at least.
(6) The duration of the courses for the first degree in arts, commerce & science should be 2 years after the higher secondary for general courses. It should be three years for general (Honours) and special courses.
(7) The duration of the MA/MSc/MCom. courses should be two years after the general (honours) or special courses or three years after the general course.
The adoption of this pattern should be made on all-India basis and all the States should agree and implement the programme.
Adequate Central assistance should be available to the States to implement this programme.
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