VIII. REPORT OF THE WORKING GROUP ON SECONDARY AND VOCATIONAL EDUCATION
Chairman: Shri M. Veerappa Moily
Minister for Education
Government Of Karnataka
Rapporteur: Shri S.P. Dubey
Secretary
School Education
Government of Madhya Pradesh.
The Group which met to discuss the subject of Secondary Education, as contained in :
(i) the Report of the CABE Committee on Policy chaired by Shri N. Janardhana Reddy; and
(ii) the proposed reformulation of, certain paras of the National Policy on Education, 1986.
resolved to place on record its appreciation of the fact that Secondary Education has been given more attention than it had been given in the past. Secondary Education occupies a critical position in the education hierarchy since it prepares students either for higher education or the for the world of work. The training of skilled manpower and the quality of our university education are both very closely co-related with the quality of secondary education. Considering the progress in the area of universalisation of elementary education and the awareness created through literacy campaigns it is necessary that preparatory action be taken to provide for the required expansion of secondary school facilities which will naturally follow. Therefore, consolidation and expansion should go in tandem. The
198
Group appreciated the stand taken by the Government of India in classifying vocational education as a priority thrust area during the Eighth Plan.
After these general resolutions the Group discussed the Chapters or the Janardhana Reddy Report relevant to vocational and secondary education and made the following recommendations:
VOCATIONAL EDUCATION Recommendation No. 12.12 (i): The recommendations was supported with the proviso that a more concerted effort should be made to start vocational courses from Class IX also.
Recommendation No.12.12 (ii): While agreeing that generic vocational courses should be introduced on a selective basis in some schools, it was the considered opinion of the Group that they may be tried out at the higher secondary stage initially. Some members recalled that the Standing Committee of the Joint Council of Vocational Education had considered a draft scheme for introduction of pre-vocational education at the lower secondary stage in a phased manner. It was felt that since a large number of students discontinue their studies after passing Class X or failing in class X, occupation specific skills would be of more value to them.
Recommendation No. 12.12 (iii) The Group agreed that a systematic programme of Work Experience should form part of the school curriculum from as early a stage as possible and that adequate time for it in the school time table should be provided.
199
However, the Group reiterated that at the lower secondary stage. Work experience should assume the form of pro-vocational education. The vocational core could find a place at the higher secondary stage.
Recommendations No.12.12 (iv) & (v): These were accepted.
In addition to the recommendations of the Janardhana Reddy Committee Report, the Group emphasised the importance of sharing the responsibility for starting of vocational courses with other agencies, such as, technical institutions and employers in the public and private sectors. Although provided for in the NPE, 1986 much more needs to be done in this direction. Attention was drawn to the innovative programme of vocational education in Karnataka which was recommended for study by other States/UTs.
The Group also stressed the reed for non-formal vocational courses of varying duration, generally short-term, for school drop outs and other disadvantaged sections of society.
The Group strongly recommended that efforts should be made to cover all vocational courses at the higher secondary stage under the Apprentices Act.
POLICY FORMULATIONS The Group also considered the proposed reformulation of paras 5.16, 5.17 and 5.23. The suggestion was that in conformity with the opinion experessed regarding generic vocational courses only at the higher secondary stage, the last sentence of revised paras 5.16 should read as follows:
200
"Efforts will be made to provide children at the higher secondary level with generic vocational course* which cut across several occupational fields and which are not occupation specific."
No change was suggested in the reformulation of paras 5.17 and 5.23.
SECONDARY EDUCATION The recommendations made in the Report of the CABE Committee on Policy in respect of the general aspects of Secondary Education were taken up for discussion.
Para 11.3 Expansion of Secondary Education Facilities While agreeing with the thrust given in para 11.3 of the Committee's Report, the Group particularly welcomed the proposed increased participation of girls specially in science and commerce streams. However, the Group suggested that increased participation of girls in the vocational stream should also be given priority. The Group suggested that education through the open learning system, correspondence and double-shift schoold should be encouraged and strengthened for expansion of secondary education. The Group was of the view that in the new Programme of Action which is expected to be brought out after adoption of the revised policy, specific area and population-wise norms should be laid down for setting up secondary/higher secondary schools with particular reference to the rural and unserved areas. The Group also felt that in order to actualise
201
the consolidation of secondary education, a nationwide programme of improvement of secondary education on the lines of Operation Blackboard should be taken up so that the secondary/higher secondary schools in the country can have a minimum level of facilities such as buildings, libraries, laboratories, worksheds, playgrounds and other infrastructure, qualified teachers and acceptable teacher-pupil ratio. The Group also recommended that States/UTs should earmark land for setting up of schools by amending the Acts like the Urban Ceiling Act, the Land Reforms Act, etc.
Para 11.4 Educational Structure The Group fully endorsed the call given in this para of the Committee's Report to bring uniformity in the break up of the first ten years of schooling in all parts of the country. The Group also agreed that efforts should be made to persuade States to bring the +2 stage within the school system where it is not so.
Para 11.5 Boards of Secondary Education This recommendation was accepted.
Para 11.6 Heads of Educational Institutions The Group agreed with the recommendations in this para of the Committe's Report and noted that action has been initiated in the Ministry to move towards enhancement of the status of Heads of the Kendriya Vidyalayas and Navodaya Vidyalayas. State Governments/UT Administrations may be advised to take similar action.
202
Para 11.7 Examination Reform The Group agreed with the line of action identified in this para as also in para 16.11 of the Committees Report. It suggested the involvement of the Council of Boards of Secondary Education (COBSE) and the NCERT in this matter. As regards the Committee's recommendation for introducing Examination Reforms in CBSE affiliated schools, the Group noted that the CBSE has already started the process. The Group urged that the CBSE and State Boards may continue their efforts in this direction.
Paras 11.8, 11.9, 11.10 Teacher Training, Computer Literacy and
Teaching of Science. Mathematics And
Languages The Group agreed with the recommendations in paras 11.8, 11.9 and 11.10 of the Committee's Report on these issues. However, in regard to para 11.8 of the Report, the Group felt that it is necessary to bring more professionalism in teacher training for secondary school teachers. In order to achieve that objective, the B.Ed courses should either be restructured by integrating general education with training in pedagogy as in the Regional Colleges of Education or by increasing the duration of B.Ed. courses or by other suitable methods. Vocational Education should become an integral part of the B.Ed curriculum. The Group strongly recommended for discontinuance of correspondence courses for teacher training.
Para 11.11 Open Learning System The Group agreed with the recommendation of the Janardhana Committee to give utmost support to the open learning system at the secondary stage to serve the large number of
203
students who have not been able to take advantage of the formal school system. The Group resolved that States/UTs may be encouraged to start their own Open Schools by the end of the Eighth Plan. In this it was suggested that voluntary organisations could also be involved. The Group felt that the National Open School should provide support to develop State level capabilities in open learning up to the higher secondary stage.
CONTENTS AND PROCESS OF EDUCATION
Para 16.2 Curriculum The Group agreed with the views expressed in this para.
Para 16.3 Value Education While agreeing with the recommendation of the Janardhana Reddy Committee Report, the Group felt the need to stress the importance of the singing of the National Anthem every day in all schools in the country in the interest of national integration.
Paras 16.4 to 16.7 Educational Technology, Computer Education.
Environmental Education and Teaching of
Science and Mathematics, Youth The recommendations in the above paras were accepted.
Paras 16.12 and 16.13 Load of the School Bag The Group shared the concern about curriculum load expressed in Para 16.12 of the Committee's Report. it appreciated that the Ministry of Human Resource Development had set up a National Advisory Committee to critically examine this
204
problem. The Group agreed with the recommendation in para 26.13 of the Committee's Report.
Para 5.3 Education of the Handicapped The Group accepted the suggestions.
Para 6.6 Common School System The recommendations were accepted.
Para 7.5 Navodaya Vidyalayas The Group agreed with the following recommendations:
i) constant review to keep the scheme as cost effective as possible.
ii) ensuring the continued validity and reliability of the, admission tests by periodic evaluation and appropriate modification of admission procedure; and
iii) more particular attention to the pace-setting role of these institutions.
Population Education The Group desired that more impetus should be given to the National Population Education Programme in the School and Non-formal Sectors. It recommended that Population Education should be distinctively reflected in the revised NPE.
YOGA The Group stressed that Yoga should be introduced in schools to the extent possible. It noted that a national
205
syllabus on Yoga is being attempted by NCERT in consultation with Yoga experts.
REVISED FORMULATIONS Para 3.3 - No Changes
Para 5.13 - In line 8 for "Science and Commerce streams" read "science, commerce and vocational streams". Line 11 should read as "will be made to provide computer literacy in as many secondary level..... "
Para 5.15 - No changes
Para 5.37 - For "phased manner to," read "phased manner at..." in
line 2.
Paras 8.16 and 8.17 - No changes
Para 8.21 - The words "or other similar systems" should be deleted.
Para 8.25 - No changes.
206
PARTICIPANTS IN THE GROUP ON VOCATIONAL AND SECONDARY EDUCATION
1. Shri N. Veerappa Moily - Chairman
Education Minister
Karnataka.
2. Shri S.P. Dubey - Rapporteur
Secretary (Education)
Madhya Pradesh
3. Prof. Savithri Lakshmanan
Member of Parliament
4. Shri Harnam Das Johar
Education Minister of Punjab
5. Shri Kishorilal Verma
Minister of State of School Education
Madhya Pradesh.
6. Shri B.J. Heerjee
Adviser to the Governor of J & K.
7. Prof. K.L. Chopra
Director
I.I.T., Kharagpur
8. Shri Karnail Singh
Principal Secretary Education
Uttar Pradesh.
9. A.K. Joti
Commissioner Higher Education
Government of Gujarat.
10. Shri K.S. Sarma
Education Secretary
Government of Andhra Pradesh.
11. Shri V.P. Suri
Director of Education
Delhi Administration.
12. Shri A.K. Mishra
Head
Department of Vocational Education
NCERT, New Delhi.
13. Shri H.R. Sharma
Director (Academic)
Central Board of Secondary Education
Delhi.
207
14. Shri B.P. Khandelwal
Director of Education
Government of Uttar Pradesh.
15. Me. Kuldeep Kaur
Director of Public Instruction
Union Territory of Chandigarh
Chandigarh.
16. Shri K. Kandaswamy
Counsellor of Education
Andaman and Nichobar Islands
17. Shri Y.P. Bhasker,
Additional Director of Training
DGE&T,
Ministry of Labour.
18. Shri B.C. Jhaveri
Technical Director
M.N. Dastur and Co.
19. Dr. S. Kumar
Deputy Director Secondary Education
Haryana.
20. Shri Vijendra Kabra
Director, IIRU
Aurangabad (M.S)
21. Shri K.S. Baidwan
Administrator Daman & Diu
Union Territory.
22. Mrs. Manju Gupta
Director Secondary Education
Haryana.
23. Shri T. Natchimuthu
Director of School Education
Tamil Nadu
Madras - 5.
24. Dr.(Mrs) D.M. de Rebello
Joint Secretary (School)
Ministry of Human Resource Development
Government of India.
25. Smt. Renuka Mehra
Deputy Education Adviser
Ministry of Human Resource Development
Government of India.
208
26. Shri A. Banerji
Deputy Secretary (School)
Ministry of Human Resource Development
Government of India
27. Ms. P. Bolina
Deputy Educational Adviser
Ministry of Human Resource Development
Government of India.
28. Shri S.K. Sengupta
Under Secretary (VE)
Ministry of Human Resource Development
Government of India.
209