 VI. WRITTEN SPEECH OF THE MINISTER
 OF HUMAN RESOURCE DEVELOPMENT,
 SHRI ARJUN SINGH.

Hon'ble Members of the Central Advisory Board of Education and other participants,

I have great pleasure in welcoming you all to the 49th meeting of the Central Advisory Board of Education [CABE]. The CABE has been playing a major role since its inception in policy formulation and Implementation, more so after the National Policy on Education, 1986.

Free and compulsory education for all children upto the age of 14 years is a constitutional obligation. Ever since planning began, India has been striving towards universalisation of elementary education. What has been accomplished, in terms of literacy, spread of institutions, participation and equalisation of educational opportunities, is spectacular and yet our goal is still distant and we have the dubious distinction of having the world's largest illiterate and out-of-school population. We need to forge a national will to rectify this situation to ensure that every child which ought to be in School is in the school.

The National Policy on Education, 1986 as updated in 1992, envisages UEE to be achieved by the turn of the century. The task ahead is arduous in that participation in the basic education system should now come from disadvantaged groups and those backward regions where the spread of education is thin. We have to liter-ally cover almost as much ground in the next Seven years as in the forty years since independence. But we need not be daunted by the task ahead for there are several welcome features which make the task achievable, provided we have the national will and take up the challange of EFA with the same resolve as we exhibited in the struggle for freedom. Foremost among the welcome features are the National Policy on Education, 1986 (NPE) and its Programme of Action. Based as it is on an indepth review of the Indian educational system and evolved through a consensual process, NPE provides a comprehensive framework to guide the achieving of Education For All (EFA). You are aware that the 1986 policy and its POA were revised through the same consensual process. If I may say so, it is the NPE 1986 framework of basic education that had been adopted by the Jomtien Conference on Education For All, held in March, 1990. The central point of the Jomtien declaration is that the basic learning needs of all should be met through a variety of means by the year 2000 AD. Given that we have an excellent framework in NPE and POA, what needs to be done is to implement them with a sense of dispatch and resolve. When you approved the POA in August, 1992 the State Governments were called upon to formulate their State POAs harmonising the national POA and their own situations. Many States have formulated POAs. I would request others to expedite the POAs. What is important is not only the content of the POAs but the participatory process through which A is prepared. I would also urge you to periodically review your POAs and State plan for achieving EFA.

Another welcome feature is the emergence of the Total Literacy Campaign (TLC) which has dramatically changed the adult literacy scene. Universal adult literacy in the age group 15-35 years is now a distinct possibility by the end of the century. if only we can sustain the momentum of the campaigns and extend the campaigns to hard core districts with high illiteracy.

In the area of Elementary Education also there are welcome trends. The annual growth rate of enrolment has been steadily increasing since 1980. The number of out of school children has halved since then. Successful TLCs and women's empowerment programmes have generated demand for elementary education in the districts. The scheme of Operation Blackboard and DIETS are forging ahead and their impact on quality of education should be gradually be perceived. What the TLCs seek to do in adult literacy is now sought to be accomplished in the matter of UEE through the District Primary Education Programme.

In the advance towards UEE, we need to adapt to changing realities. We can no longer rely exclusively on providing access through setting up schools. We need to energise the local communities, make the school system more creative and responsive on school hours and school calendar, make the school curriculum

more relevant and its transaction more attractive so that the school attracts all school age children and retain them. We also need to develop and implement more effective Non-formal Education.

In the ultimate analysis, it is the management of educational structure and process that would lead to achievement of EFA goals. Management dimension means that an ethos of cost effectiveness and accountability should permeate every part of the education system. We should bring together the school and related programmes like ICDS, Early Childhood Care and Education and nutrition. Decentralisation has to be an important aspect of management of education. The 73rd and 74th Constitutional Amendments relating to Panchyati Raj and Urban Bodies provide the possibility of a greater role, for local communities to managing education. Detailed parameters for a decentralised management of education have been worked out by a CABE Committee on Decentralised Management of Education. The Committee's recommendations indicate how educational structures should be set up at the District, Taluk/Mandal and Village levels in pursuance of the Constitutional amendment. It is only through genuine decentralisation of educational administration in the true spirit of the constitution that we reach the goal of UEE. Here is an opportunity which we should not miss.

Governance of the Universities is another major area which requires emergent attention. We need to pay particular attention to the management aspects of the university system. The report of the CABE Committee on the report of the Gnanam. Committee which is before you gives you an opportunity for reflection and action on this important subject.

Oflate, there has been much concern in the academic circles regarding the academic burden on students and unsatisfactory quality of learning. The Ministry, therefore, appointed a National Advisory Committee to suggest ways and means to reduce the load on school students at all levels, particularly the young students, while improving quality of learning including capability for life-long self- learning and skill formation. The report of this committee is also before you and the recommendations will give you much food for thought.

Ours is a pluralistic society. In such a society, education should foster universal and eternal values, oriented towards the unity and integration of our people. We have always been edeavouring to ensure that secular and national values are reflected adequately in school textbooks. A Steering Committee has been evaluating school textbooks from the standpoint of national integration. It is felt that the Committee's status needs to be raised to that of a National Cornmission to make it inure effective. A note in this regard As also presented to you for your considered views.

The issue of representation of teachers in legislative councils has been an item which has cropped up many times in the past in the CABE meetings. We have now before us the views of a CABE Committee which had gone into the subject in-depth.

The eyes of the whole world are on us. Whether of not, the Jomtien vision of EFA by 2000 AD will be achieved would be determined by our national endeavour. The promising trends and achievements in India such as the TLCs and the emerging DPEP are being watched with great interest. India has come in for great appreciation at the recently concluded International Consultative Forum on EFA which is a prelude to the summit of the 9 High Population countries which we are hosting on December 15-16, 1993.

I am sure during the course of the day you would give your considered views on all these aspects which ultimately impinge upon how we can improve the quality of education as well as ensure that education is available to every Indian. I look forwad to your valuable suggestions and support and cooperation in this national endeavour. Once again I welcome you all to this important meeting and thank you for accepting and reponding to this invitation.

WRITTEN STATEMENTS OF STATE EDUCATION MINISTERS AND OTHER MEMBERS OF CABE

VI. WRITTEN SPEECH OF THE MINISTER OF HUMAN RESOURCE DEVELOPMENT, SHRI ARJUN SINGH.