MEMORANDUM ON ITEM NO. VI TO CONSIDER THE REPORT OF THE STANDING COMMITTEE OF THE CENTRAL ADVISORY BOARD OF EDUCATION ON SOCIAL EDUCATION
The Standing Committee of the Board on Social Education met in New Delhi on the 6th & 7th August, 1965 to consider matters con- nected with social education. The report of the Committee is given below. A few members of the Committee have sent comments/sug- gestions on certain items of the report. A copy of the note containing these comments/suggestions is also appended to the report.
The recommendations of the Committee and the comments/ suggestions referred to above were placed before the Board for con- sideration.
MINUTES OF THE MEETING OF THE STANDING COMMITTEE
OF THE C.A.B.E. ON SOCIAL EDUCATION The Standing Committee of the C.A.B.E. on Social Education met from 5.00 P.M. to 7.00 P.M. on 6th August, 1965 and from 10.30 A.M. to 1.00 P.M. on 7th August, 1965. The list of members and other participants who joined discussions is at Annexure 1.
The meeting started with election of Shri D. K. Barooah as Chairman of the meeting.
Item No. 1: Social Education-Objectives and Targets proposed for
the Fourth Plan. In regard to item No. 1 of the Agenda the Committee made the following recommendations for consideration by the, C.A.B.E.
(1) In the Fourth Plan, programmes of social education should receive a much higher priority than they have done so far, inasmuch as social education is the most significant instru- ment of economic development and social change.
(2) The present rate of progress of adult literacy work is much too slow and it is of vital importance for the country's development to eradicate illiteracy within as brief a period as possible. A phased programme should, therefore, be prepared for reaching this objective in all parts of the country within 15 years, in most parts, this objective should be achieved much earlier.
(3) For quick results dynamic programmes on a campaign basis with people's participation should be organised on a massive scale. The initial drive for this campaign will have to be on the basis of voluntary unpaid work, but it will have to be sustained by an adequate follow-up pro- gramme which will require substantial expenditure. The actual pattern of the campaign will have to be determined in the light of local needs and experiences and there need be no rigid uniformity in all the States in this respect.
(4) For the adult literacy campaign as well as for the follow- up, the participation and active cooperation of various Gov- ernment and non-Government agencies should be secured.
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Experience in some parts has shown that the programme makes good progress if the local self-governing institutions, teachers' organisations and women social workers take the initiative.
(5) Effective coordination of the work to be done by various Government departments and non-official agencies is vital for the success of the programme. At the Central level, the coordinating agency will also watch its progress and guide the direction and pace of the campaign in all parts of the country. A National Board should be set up with representatives of various Ministries concerned and non- official workers in this field. At the State and lower levels, Education Departments who will be in overall charge of the programme should ensure proper coordination by adopt- ing such measures as may meet the requirement.
(6) It is felt that greater response from the teachers and stu- dents could be secured for work in adult literacy campaigns through persuasion than through any compulsion.
(7) The follow-up programme after the adult literacy cam- paign will have two aspects (a) strengthening the literacy content acquired through the campaign by the illiterate people, and (b) providing opportunities to develop purpose- ful reading habits and utilising the newly acquired literacy for improvement of knowledge or professional skills.
(8) The follow-up programme mentioned in the preceding paragraph should provide for (a) setting up of requisite continuation classes and/or night schools, clubs, etc. (b) organization of appropriate library services (in the broad sense of the term `library' so as to discharge the multi- functional responsibility of adult literacy centres); (c) production of suitable literature in all the Indian langu- ages on a big-scale. For planning this programme, expe- rience gained go far in this field should be pooled and utilized. The Committee was given to understand that competitions for literature suitable for neo-literates have been held for a number of years and literature produced for these competitions and otherwise is available for mak- ing a beginning.
(9) The Committee felt that a proper organisation and adequate funds will be required to cater to the needs of various aspects of the follow-up programme. These should be pro- vided for to ensure that literacy acquired through the cam- paign basis is utilised for the betterment of the individual as also for the development of the country. For this pur- pose, literacy acquired through the campaign programme will have to be adequate in content and sufficiently high in standard.
(10) Adult literacy and other social education programmes should focus their attention on improving the productive efficiency of the farmer and the factory worker. The Committee was given to understand that the Workers' Education Board functioning under the Ministry of Labour is attending to
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only programmes relating to trade union movements and such other matters of organizational interest for labour. It is very necessary that the improvement of the worker in his profession receives attention from both Government and industry. Similarly, Extension Programmes to improve the efficiency of the farmer, particularly the neo-literates would create the necessary motivation for rapid spread of literacy.
(11) The Committee endorsed the idea that a special programme of social education for farmers should be initiated in the intensive agricultural districts covered by the Package Programme (16 districts) and by the I.A.A. Programme (74 Districts). These areas have the requisite organisation for conducting demonstrations and for developing the skills of the farmers. The Agriculture and Community Development Ministries may be moved to consider this suggestion and to prepare a programme for this purpose.
(12) In the social education programmes, full use should be made of all the available physical facilities and institutions which have a bearing on the subject. Thus for example, village libraries, community centres, panchayatghars, schools, vijnan mandirs. etc. should all play their role in this programme. Besides literacy, other means of social education and mass communication media such as films, radio talks, periodical journals, television (to the extent it develops), drama and bhajan parties, etc. should also be harnessed in the programme.
(13) In regard to "further" and "continuing" education of persons who have received education up to the university stage, the universities should take an active lead. They should provide inter-alia, for (i) re-education programmes of teachers; (ii) special programmes of courses suited to specialized needs; and (iii) research in the techniques and methodology of adult education.
Item No. 2: A note sent by the Government of Maharashtra regard-
ing adequate provision of funds for Maharashtra for the
follow-up programme of Gram, Shikshan Mohim. The note from the Maharashtra Government highlights a point which is already covered by recommendations in para 7, 8 and 9 under item 1. In calculating the financial outlay on adult literacy and social education programme, this aspect will have to be borne in mind. It would be useful if the Maharashtra Government and other State Governments give thought to the matter and indicate the per- capita expenditure on the campaign and the follow-up programme separately, in relation to the physical targets which they propose to achieve.
Item No. 3: Report on action taken on the recommendations made
in the last session of the C.A.B.E. The report was circulated and its contents noted.
ANNEXURE I
LIST OF MEMBERS WHO PARTICIPATED IN THE MEETING OF THE STAND-
ING COMMITTEE OF THE C.A.B.E. ON SOCIAL EDUCATION Members of the Standing Committee
1. Dr. V. K. R. V. Rao, Member Education, Planning Commis- sion
2. Dr. A. C. Joshi, Adviser, Planning Commission
3. Dr. M. S. Mehta, Vice-Chancellor, University of Rajasthan
4. Dr. Sarojini Mahishi, M.P.
5. Smt. Ranu Mookerjee
6. Smt. Raksha Saran, Chairman, National Council for Wo- men's Education
7. Smt. Grace Tucker, Deputy Minister for Education, Mysore State (Representative of Education Minister, Government of Mysore)
8. Shri M. V. Deo, Education Secretary, Government of Maha- rashtra. (Representative of Education Minister, Govern- ment of Maharashtra)
9. Shri D. K. Barooah, Education Minister, Assam
10. Shri L. O. Joshi, Joint Secretary, Ministry of Education (Secretary)
N.B.-Shri M. Rahman, Education Secretary, Assam and Shri B. R. Patil, Deputy Director of Education, Maharashtra also attended the meeting.
Names of Invitees
1. Shri J. C. Mathur, Joint Secretary, Ministry of Food & Agri- culture
2. Shri A. K. Palit, Deputy Secretary, Ministry of Labour and Employment
3. Dr. T. A. Koshy, Director, National Fundamental Education Centre
4. Shri B.S. Kesavan, Director, INSDOC
5. Shri J. C. Saxena, Research Officer, Planning Commission
Ministry's Representatives
1. Dr. (Mrs) Soundaram Ramachandran, Deputy Education Minister
2. Shri A. R. Deshpande, Adviser (SE)
3. Smt. L. W. Dhume,
4. Shri P.C. Sharma,
5. Shri Jagdish Singh,
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ANNEXURE II
MEMBERS'/INVITEES' COMMENTS AND SUGGESTIONS ON THE DRAFT MINU-
TES OF THE MEETING OF THE STANDING COMMITTEE OF THE C.A.B.E. ON
SOCIAL EDUCATION
S.No. Name of the Member/Invitee Comments and Suggestions
1 Dr. V.K.R.V. Rao Dr. V.K.R.V. Rao has suggested some changes
in paragraph 5 on page 2 of the Minutes. The
paragraph as revised by him is reproduced
below-the additional words and sentences
suggested to be incorporated have been under-
lined:
(5) Effective coordination of the work to be
done by various Government departments
and non-official agencies is vital for the
Success of the programme. At the Central
level, the coordinating agency will also
watch its progress and guide the direction
and pace of the campaign in all parts of
the country. A National Board with
an autonomous status should be set up with
representatives of various Ministries con-
cerned and non-official workers in this
field. At the State and lower levels, edu-
cation departments who will be in overall
charge of the programme should ensure
proper coordination by adopting such
measures as may meet the requirement,
including the appointment of a senior officer
who will be incharge of this programme. It
might also be useful to have State Advisory
Boards on Adult Literacy and Adult Educa-
tion.
2 Dr. M.S.Mehta 'The minutes appeared to be all right,except
that some verbal changes are necessary. The
minutes are substantially correct.
One suggestion which I had made seems to
have escaped notice. I had specially em-
phasized that at the State level a special
Officer (such as Literacy Commis
with any other designation) should be ap-
pointed to ensure the proper progress of
this scheme during the period of
the `target'. However, if you are
under the impression
Committee did not support this point, it
may be left out.'
3 Smt. Ranu Mookerjee I approve of them (Minutes) and have no com-
ments to make.'
4 Dr. A. C. Joshi No amendments to suggest.
5 Dr. T. A. Koshy `In recommendation No. 5 of the draft
minutes it is not clear as to who will
set up the National
Board. My recollection is that the Committee
was of the view that the Ministry of Education
should set up such a Board with representa-
tives of various Ministries concerned and non-
official workers in this field. If it is so, that fact
may be made clear.'
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S.No. Name of the Member/Invitee Comments and Suggestion
6 Shri P. Sadagopan (Ministry of The second sentence of paragraph 10 on page 4
Labour and Employment) of the draft minutes may be amended as under:
`The Committee was given to understand that
the Central Board for Workers' Education
act up by the Ministry of Labour & Employ-
ment was engaged in imparting education
to workers in labour laws, trade union philo-
sophy, how to organise and run trade unions
as well as their rights and duties both as
workers and citizens etc. It was outside the
aims and objectives of the Board, as approved
by the Indian Labour Conference, to undertake
adult literacy'.