VII. SPEECH OF SHRI ARJUN SINGH,
MINISTER OF HUMAN RESOURCE
 DEVELOPMENT
 

I welcome you all to this golden jubilee meeting of the Central Advisory Board of Education (CABE). As you are aware this meeting is being held in the backdrop of two important conferences. In December 1993, India was privileged to host the Summit of nine high population countries in New Delhi. It adopted the historic Delhi Declaration which re-affirms our faith and commitment to achieve Education for All. As a follow up of the EFA 9 Summit, a Conference of Chief Ministers was held on 15th February, 1994. This Conference has now put education firmly on the central stage of the developmental agenda of the country and has given a clear message that both at the national and state level, there is a strong and unwavering political will be removing the curse of illiteracy from this country.

All along our efforts have been towards physical expansion and we have tended to equate quantity with quality neglecting somewhat the area of delivery of services. What has been happening in our classrooms has been mere transmission of knowledge from the teacher to the student. This state has to change. The child is not a mere receptacle. Education has to be child-centred; it should stir his creative potential, develop his cognitive and non-cognitive faculties. For this purpose we have to pay attention to the nature of the curriculum, the design and content of textbooks and the system of examination, etc. I am sure that a wide ranging debate has been held on the very usefull recommendations of the Yashpal Committee since our last meeting in October 1993 and that we will now be able to come up with consensual recommendations on the report so that some concrete action can be initiated urgently.

I need hardly mention to you about the need for greater encouragment to sports through the educational systems. The report of the CABE Committee set up for examining and suggesting measures for making sports and physical education, including yoga an integral part of the learning process at all stages is before you for consideration. Quite a few of the committee's recommendations have no financial implications. The Committee has also made certain recommendations, which have financial implications. You may give these recommendations your serious and objective consideration and advise on the practical measures we should take.

I hope that we will be able to take some key decisions on the recommendations made in the two reports in this meeting which should lead to an improvement of quality of education and sports in this country. Once again I welcome you all.