CABE, 42ND MEETING, 1987, 25-26 JUNE

 MINUTES OF THE MEETING OF CENTRAL
 ADVISORY BOARD OF EDUCATION HELD
 ON 25-26 JUNE, 1987 AT DELHI

The 42nd meeting of the Central Advisory Board of Education took place in Delhi on 25-26 June, 1987. The Conference was attended by the Chief Minister of Manipur, Deputy Chief Minister of Tripura and Education Ministers of practically all the States and other Members of the CABE. It was chaired by Shri P.V. Narasimha Rao, Minister of Human Resource Development. The meeting was also attended by Ministers of State for Education and Culture, Information and Broadcasting, Science and Technology and the Deputy Minister in the Ministry of Welfare. Chairman, University . Grants Commission and Member Education, Planning Commission, Prof. P.N. Srivastava also attended the meeting. The names of the participants are in Annex I.

On the first day, CABE reviewed the implementation of National Policy on Education 1986. Welcoming the participants, the Union Education Secretary and Member-Secretary of CABE said that it was intended to call a meeting of the Board earlier. However, the period since the last meeting had been devoted mainly to preparation of detailed projects for implementation of the Policy. For this purpose, it was necessary to hold consultations with State Governments. Accordingly, in last February and again in April 1987, Conferences of State Ministers of Education, Education Secretaries and Directors of Education were convened. Those meetings were most fruitful in arriving at broad consensus in respect of such important programmes as Universalisation of Elementary Education, Operation Blackboard, Nonformal Education, Teacher Education, Vocationalisation of Secondary Education, etc.

He stated that the objectives of the meeting were firstly, to have another opportunity to think together on common issues of education and development; secondly to review in broad terms the progress made so far in the implementation of Education Policy and the Programme of Action; and, thirdly to indicate strategies for operationalisation of programmes deserving priority.

In his inaugural address, the Union Minister of Human Resource Development stated that the purpose of convening this

meeting is to review in-depth the progress of implementation of the NPE and the work done so far. The reports on action taken in different States indicate that while the will to implement the policy objectives is not lacking, funds of the order required are riot forthcoming, particularly in removing deficiencies in existing infrastructure. Constraint of resources has remained the principal bottleneck. The first step towards removal of this constraint was taken by the Central Government by raising the allocation of funds to Rs.825 crores for education in the Central Sector during the current year, in spite of competing claims of other equally important sectors.

He observed that the need for a decisive Central role in the implementation of priority programmes like Operation Blackboard, Non- formal Education, Vocationalisation and National Literacy mission for which Central financial assistance will be provided. He observed that while the programme of vocationalisation would commence from July, 1988, after necessary preparation, some of the States which have already taken steps in this direction will be assisted from the current financial year itself. It is proposed to commence a substantially funded Centrally Sponsored Scheme for Vocationalisation at the school level from 1987-88. 5,000 schools would be equipped with vocational facilities during. the VII Plan period.

He further informed the House that detailed parameters of the Technology Mission for Eradication, of Illiteracy in the country have now been finalised. It would now be called National Literacy Mission and will aim at imparting functional literacy to 80 million illiterate persons in the 15-35 age group - 30 million to be covered by 1990 and an additional 50 million by 1995. The Mission is based on a thorough analysis of the strength, weaknesses and problems experienced in education of past programmes in the field of adult education. The detailed strategies to be adopted, among others, will place emphasis on motivation of learners and teachers, mass mobilisation, people's involvement, deployment of techno-pedagogic inputs and efficient project management and monitoring.

He stated that a scheme of revision of pay scales of teachers in Universities and Colleges, including certain other

measures for maintenance of standards in higher education has been announced. one major concern in the formulation of this scheme was an effort towards attainment of the goals enunciated in the National Policy on Education. The Scheme of pay scales is not designed merely to compensate the rise in the cost of living; it is in fact a composite scheme with several measures for improving the quality and standards of education built into it.

He observed that in the area of technical education while expansion of facililties to meet demands of manpower requirement is important, the improvement of quality and standards of technical education is of greater importance and significance.

He informed the Members that during the last one year, the Ministry of Human Resource Development in close cooperation with the State Governments and other agencies has taken a number of important steps to work out details of schemes within the broad strategy outlines in the Policy and the Progamme of Action. Seven Committees of the CABE have been set up to lay dow guidelines for formulation of programmes and schemes as well as to monitor and evaluate the implementation of programme envisaged in the NPE. These Committee relate to the following areas:-

1. Elementary Education (including Operation Blackboard and NFE)

2. Content and Processes of Education, particularly at the school stage

3. Housing Facilities for Women Teachers

4. Transfer of Teachers

5. Vocationalisation of Education

6. Scheduled Castes/Scheduled Tribes and other educationally deprived groups.

7. Management of Education

Concluding his Address he expressed the hope that the Conference of CABE will undertake a detailed review of implmentation of the NPE and help the Government to set its sights for the future.

The full text of the Union Minister for Human Resource Development Inaugural Address is appended at Annexure II.

Thereafter Minister for Human Resource Development invited ,members to participate in the deliberations. The Board expressed concurrence with the observations of Minister for Human Resource Development that in coming months it will be necessary for the Central and State \Governments to implement the Policy with much greater vigour and tenacity. Particular concern was expressed that most of the schemes envisaged in the National Policy on Education had not yet taken off. On,the other hand it was noted with satisfaction that the Central Government had prepared detailed programmes in practically all spheres of priority and all State Governments had set up necessary mechanisms for seriously undertaking implementation of the National Policy on Education.

Speaking on the occasion, Prof Yash Pal, Chairman, University Grants Commission invited attention to the challenges and difficulties in implementation of the Education Policy. He stressed the need for building dynamic and beneficial linkages between education, technological institutions, industry and society so that educational and R & D systems could become mutually supporting and self- sustaining. He maintained that this would also ensure rational and optimum utilisation of scarce resources and help promote reciprocal interaction and interdisciplinary approach to the solution of societal problems. He emphasised the need to stimulate creativity and efficiency of the system, and made a reference to vigorous efforts in the frontier areas of research such as super-conductivity. He underscored the essential imperative of creating congenial working and service conditions for teachers who are, in the final analysis, the principal catalysts and change agents of socio-cultural and institutional systems of society.

Prof. P.N. Srivastava, Member (HRD), planning Commission emphasised the importance of R and D at all stages of education.

He buttressed his observation by citing examples of some developed countries to underscore the point that India must pay much greater attention to this aspect with a view to promoting cost-effectivenes, productivity and yoking the latest scientific and technological developments and innovations to the solution of problems such as ill- health, illiteracy, economic backwardness, obsolescence of knowledge technology and equipment. He said that there is a misplaced zeal in certain quarters to de-emphasize the need of required investments in the sphere of higher education. Decrying such attempts he stated that while it is imperacive to wipe out the scourage of illiteracy from the country, it is no less important and urgent to keep pace with exponential growth of knowledge and innovations in the field of science and technology.

Prof. D.S. Kothari stated that Education should be linked to development of people and to development of an appropriate value system conducive to character building as emphasized by Gandhiji. He stated that the present age is an age of unprecedented development in science and technology. Education in this context should concentrate on science and humanism and should play an effective role in the development of human potential of our country, Institutions of higher education he stated, should be linked with the field projects for increasing productivity and contribute to the development process. He advocated setting up high level teacher training institutions on the lines of IITs and suggested that 4-5 year degree courses should be introduced for. teacher development. He also pleaded for adoption of common school system which was one of the main recommendations of the 1968 Policy.

Shri Brindaban Goswami, Minister for Education, Assam in his address highlighted the salient features for implementation of NPE in his State in different areas as stated below:-

i) Blackboards have been provided to all primary schools and a grant of Rs. 500/- has been provided for furniture to each school. New text-books prepared in accordance with revised curricula will be introduced in Classes I, III and VI from the next year.

ii) 16,000 primary, middle and secondary school teachers

were trained in the summer of 1986 and similar number are undergoing training this year. Supply or hand-books to each teacher is envisaged.

iii)School mapping has already been started and is likely to be completed by July 1987. Village/Block level Committees have been constituted for development of elementary education.

iv) Vocational education would be introduced in 5 selected schools at plus 2 stage. Teachers would be trained in vocational courses and a model Junior Vocational College would be established by the State Government for which he requested for assistance from the Central Government.

v) 150 out of 359 higher secondary schools in the State have facilities for science education. Training of Science teachers would be given by selected colleges to improve the standard of science education. Science kits will be supplied to students of Classes VIII to X. Revision of curriculum has been taken up. Services of eminent retired University Professors are proposed to be utilised by the State Government to supplement science teaching at plus. 2 stage. He requested that Central Government should provide grant to improve, laboratory facilities in schools.

vi) Curriculum has been revised fur polytechnics. A Junior Technical School is being upgraded to a girls Polytechnic and a girls wing at Dibrugarh Polytechnic would be set up shortly.

He suggested that the primary school should be the nucleus around which other activities like non-formal education, adult education and pre-primary education would be built. He also emphasised the need for the regional language as the medium of instruction along with English and Hindi in the Navodaya Vidyalayas. He requested the proposed regional college of education for the North Eastern Region should be located in Assam. He observed that the State Government propose to take up opening of autonomous colleges only after careful consideration and he suggested that the U.G.C. may relax its norms for giving grants to Universities in Assam. As regards the National Testing Service, he stated that the State Government could offer comments only after full details are made available.

Minister for Education, Arunachal Pradesh (Shri K. Krong) made the following observations:-

i) The Central Government may extend Cent per cent assistance for implementation of the Scheme of operation Blackboard. He said that the NREP and RLEGP resources are meagre and additional funds are required for construction of school buildings.

ii) Five Navodaya Vidyalayas have been sanctioned out of which one had started functioning. The present grant of Rs. 2 lakhs per school (one lakh for school building and one lakh fur the rest) was not adequate. He suggested that Central grant of about Rs. 10 lakhs must be provided.

iii) He informed that the Scheme of Open University is under submission to the U.G.C. which may be cleared at an early date.

The Minister of Education, West Bengal (Shri Kanti Biswas) indicated the status of implementation of NPE as follows

i) Implementation of the Scheme of Operation Blackboard would require Rs. 22 crores Rs. 32 crores and Rs. 50 crores during the years 1987-88, 1988-89 and 1989-90 respectively. The NREP, RLEGP resources could be used only for the on-going projects and adequate funds are not available fur construction of school buildings, Department of Rural Development must provide more funds so that requirements of education sector are fully met.

ii) Before embarking on the project on full scale, to begin with, the revised Scheme of Non-Formal Education should be launched on pilot basis. The Central Government should assure providing financial assistance during the Eighth Five Year Plan also.

iii) Very little amount had been earmarked for the Adult Education Programme. Government of India should provide more funds.

iv) The State Government did not accept the programme of Navodaya Vidyalaya in principle.

v) Regarding the revision of pay scales of teachers in Higher Education the Central Government had agreed to share only 80% of the total financial liability and that too will cease at the conclusion of Seventh Plan. Full financial support should be given by the Central and this should be extended upto the end of Eighth Five Year Plan. He was opposed to recruitment of teachers of colleges and universities on all India basis.

vi) The State Government would like to wait and observe the experience of Indira Gandhi National Open University.

vii) The State Government was opposed to the idea of autonomous colleges in principle.

viii) The State Government was opposed to the National Testing Service in principle in the present socio- economic context.

ix) The Central Government has earmarked Rs.1210 crores fir Education in 1987-88 which forms only 2% of the total Central Budget. This should be drastically increased.

Shri Sibte Razi, Education Minister, Uttar Pradesh giving a broad idea of achievements made by the State Government observed that :-

i) 12 Committees on different areas have been set up to discuss and formulate implementation policy at the State level for NPE-1986.

ii) A Committee headed by Chief Secretary had been set- up for approving various proposals concerning NPE.

iii) Resource tells are to be set up at different centres for teaching of teachers in regional languages. Teachers trained at these cells would further train large number of teachers.

iv) To achieve Universalsation of Elementary Education it has been decided that only girls centres, would be opened under the Non-formal Centre Scheme.

v) 72 schools are to be covered during the year 1987- 88 for vocationalisation of education at plus 2 stage.

vi) Emphasis would be attached to expansion of secondary eduction.

vii) Universalisation of Elementary Education would receive priority.

viii) Parents-Teachers Associations were being set up.

ix) 19 Navodaya Vidyalayas are to be set up by the end of 1987-88.

X) Massive teaching training programmes were being organised by the State Government.

xi) three year degree courses are to be introduced and job- oriented courses are being introduced in selected colleges.

xii) 4 or 5 colleges are proposed to be made autonomous shortly.

xiii) The State Government propose to introduce shortly, the "Earn while You Learn Scheme".

The Minister requested for increased funds from U.G.C. for improving the physical facilities in colleges and stated that Rs. 20 crores were required for implementing the scheme in all the Government colleges in his State.

The Minister requested for additional Central funds for starting 164 additional projects in the State under Adult Education Programme.

Dr. Saiyed Hasan emphasised the need for missionary zeal in implementing the various programmes of education. He also highlighted the importance of emotional, social, and moral development, of children through education process which could contribute in his opinion to character building and personality development. He suggested that in order to making the learning process purposeful and interesting, the system of learning by doing should be introduced.

MINUTES OF THE MEETING OF CENTRAL ADVISORY BOARD OF EDUCATION HELD ON 25-26 JUNE, 1987 AT DELHI