APPENDIX K : MEMORANDUM ON ITEM 13 : REPORT ON IMPORTANT ACTIVITIES OF THE MINISTRY OF EDUCATION DURING THE YEAR 1960-61.
Item No 13: To receive the report On important activities of the Ministry of Education during the year 1960-61. (Ministry of Education)
PRIMARY EDUCATION
Expansion of Training Facilities for Primary School Teachers This scheme was put into operation in 1959-60. Under this Cent- rally sponsored scheme, grants were paid on a 100% basis to State Governments for the expansion of teacher training facilities to enable the States to cope with the big demand for qualified teachers for provide free and compulsory primary education.
The budget provision for this scheme during the year 1960-61 was Rs. 2.75 crores out of which grants totalling Rs. 2,47,23,302 were sanctioned to different State Governments.
Realising the importance of teachers in any system of education, the Ministry of Education undertook a study of the facilities. available for the primary school teachers and the standards as they obtain in this respect in the different States of the country. The study has been completed and its report is in press. As a result-of this study, the main weaknesses of the system in the different States have been noted and communicated to State Governments.
As a follow up of this study, an All-India seminar was organised by the Ministry of Education in October 1960 in Delhi where the diffe- rent aspects of the problems and the reports prepared by the Ministry for each State were discussed. Two representatives participated in this seminar from each State-one of them was the officer in charge of teacher training at the headquarter and the other was the headmaster of an institution for the training of primary school teachers. The report of this seminar forms a part of the study and is in press.
To discuss important matters and practical problems of planning, Organisation and implementation of the scheme of providing universal free and compulsory primary education for the age-group of 6-11, four regional seminars were held during 1960-61 in which senior officers from Education Departments and Directorates participated.
A wide range of important topics relating to different aspects of primary education were discussed in these seminars and useful recom- mendation made thereon.
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The regional seminars have been followed up by a national seminar held in the C.I.E. from 23rd january to 9th February 1961. It is envisaged that State Governments etc. will organise early in 1961-62, seminars at the State, district and other levels to give necessary orientation to educational administrations and inspectors at all levels in connection with the programme of free and compulsory primary education.
All India Council for Elementary Education In order to accelerate the Pace of the expansion of elementary education and to fulfill the directive of Article 45 of the Constitution, the Government of India have established in 1957 an All India Council of Elementary Education. It serves as an advisory body.
During the year under report the corn position of the Council was revised and its total membership enlarged from 24 to 32. The new mem- bers included in the Council mostly represent the field of Basic education, Another notable change in the membership of the Council is the inclusion of a representative from the Union Territories.
The Council has held four meetings so far-the fourth one being in February, 1961.
Legislation With a view to develop,. an effective system of enforcing compul- sory attendance, a model legislation was prepared on the basis of a careful study of compulsory education laws in India and abroad. On this basic the Delhi Primary Education Act 1960 was passed. This Act has been put into operation from 2-10-60 in four selected areas of Shahdara block having a population of about 75,000. Compulsion throughout Delhi will be enforced progressively by age-groups. A suggestion has also been made to all State Governments to examine their existing laws on primary education in the light of the model provided by the Delhi Primary Education Act, 1960 and to take steps to bring about such changes as they may consider to be necessary.
Scheme of Improvement of Science Education in Elementary Schools
Education in Elementary Schools The scheme of Improvement of Science reaching in Elementary Schools was approved by the Government of India with effect From 1st October, 1959. It provided for the appointment of Science Consultants as a Pilot project with the Object of making expert guidance in the teaching of Science available to the teachers so as to enable them to make their students familiar not only with abstract scientific principles but also with many of the practical applicationers of these principles.
Under, this scheme, the Government of India-bore the entire expenditure up to a ceiling of Rs. 4000 non-recurring and Rs. 11,580 per year recurring per consultant unit. This assistance was available up to the end of the Second Five Year Plan.
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Grants totalling Rs. 99,801 Were sanctioned to different State Governments under this scheme.
Scheme of Relief of Educated Unemployment and Expansion of Primary
Education A scheme with the twin objectives.of relief to educated unemployed and expansion of primary education was launched in 1958-59. It visualized the recruitment of 60,000 teachers at the rate of 15,000, 20,000 and 23,090 teachers respectively during 1958-59, 1959- 60 and 1960-61. Under this scheme the Government of India assisted the States on a 100% basis on the emoluments of teachers and inspecting officers for three years from the year of appointment. The Central Government also bore the expenditure on giving the teachers a short course of orientation training and also the expenditure on equipment for schools. and on the construction of a limited number of quarters for women teachers.
The year-wise allotment of teachers etc. under this scheme was as follows:
Teachers Inspecting Quarters for
Officers women teachers
1958-59 15,999 297 1196
1959-60 23,801 474 2607
1960-61 23,671 348 1687
During 1958-59 this scheme was Centrally sponsored and grants totalling Rs. 30 lakhs were sanctioned to State Governments. Since 1959-60 this scheme has been transferred to the 'State Sector' but nevertheless, the Government of India has continued to bear the expenditure on the admissible items on a 100% basis.
Third Five Year Plan An important activity daring this year was to give concrete shape to the Third Five Year Plan after discussion and consultations at various levels. In the field of primary education, the most significant scheme approved for inclusion in the Plan is that of providing free and compulsory primary education.
It was generally agreed that in the advanced States, the target for the Third Five Year Plan should be to enrol 90 per cent of the total number of children in the relevant age-group and in the case of the relatively less advanced States, every effort should be made to enrol at least 90 per cent of the boys and 50 per cent of the girls. In the finalized Plan, this target had to be lowered to some extent due mainly to the difficulty in obtaining financial allocations to the required extent.
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National Competition of Children's Books Under this programme, a prize competition for children's books is held annually in all regional languages as well as in Hindi, Sindhi and Urdu. In addition to the award of prizes, there is also provision for purchasing not more than 2000 copies of each of. the prize winning books for distribution to school libraries, educational institutions and Children's Centres etc.
During the year 1960-61, the result of the sixth Prize Competition was announced. 23 books were selected for award of a prize of Rs. 500 each and five books for a prize of Rs. 1000 each. In addition, 5 books of the Fifth Prize Competition were also selected for award of additional prizes.
The seventh Prize Competition was announced in January 1961. Under this competition 15 prizes of the value of Rs. 500 each and 15 prizes of the value of Rs. 1000 each are to be awarded. The last date for receipt of entries was 30.4.1961. The entries in Hindi, Sindi and Urdu are being handled by this Ministry and those in other regional languages by the State Governments concerned. The work of this competition is progressing according to the prescribed time schedule and it is expected that results in all the regional languages will be finalised and declared in November 1961. It has since been decided to treat this Sub-Scheme as a non-Plan item in the Third Five Year Plan.
Sahitya Rachnalayas This programme was started in 1955-56. Under this programme, financial assistance is given to State Governments for organising Sahitya Rachnalayas for training authors in the technique of preparing literature for children. The Rachnalayas are to be organised by the State Governments at an expenditure not exceeding Rs. 11,000 per Rachnalaya. Each Rachnalaya concerns itself with the production of books in one language only and is run for six weeks.
During 1960-61, administrative approval was accorded to four State Governments viz. Madhya Pradesh, Orissa, Rajasthan and West Bengal, for an expenditure of Rs. 11,000 for organising a Sahitya Rachanalya. All these-State Governments except the Government of Madhya Pradesh organized a Rachnalaya each in that year.
Model Books One book "Bharat-Ke-Jahaj" was brought out in 1960-61,
The Scheme of Production of Literature for Children is proposed to be continued in the Third Five Year Plan with a total programme limit of Rs. 15 lakhs The following sub-schemes will be be taken up under this scheme.
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Sahitya Rachnalayas It is envisaged to organize six Sahitya Rachnalayas every year in different regions of the country for training of authors in the technique of preparing literature for children. Each Rachnalaya concerns itself with the production of books in one language only, and is run for six weeks.
Production of Pictorial Books for Children in All Major Indian
Languages Under this programme, it is proposed to produce cheap pictorial books for children in all major regional languages. The idea is to prepare the book in such a way that the pictorial part of it can be printed in bulk-50,000 to one lakh copies and the language part will then be super-imposed separately for each language, so as to make available the books to the children at cheap price.
Praduction of Books for Children and Teachers on the Subject of
National Emotional Integration Under this programme, books in Hindi and other modern Indian languages, for the use of children and teachers, on the subject of National Emotional Integration, will be brought out.
Annotated Bibliographies of Children's Books As recommended by the Central Advisory Board of Education in its 25th Session held in 1958, the State Governments and organizations like Sahitya Academies and Anjuman Tariqui-i-Hind were requested to undertake the preparation of annotated bibliography of children's books in regional languages other than Hindi. Bibliographies in Assamese, Telegu, Marathi, Sindhi, Urdu and Gujarati have been prepared by the, State Governments. The bibliography in Hindi has been prepared by this Ministry and will be printed shortly.
Educational Tours of Teachers Educational tours of teachers have been organised during 1960-61 by the State Governments of Assam, Bihar, Kerala, Mysore, Orissa, Uttar Pradesh and the Union Territory Administration of Laccadive, Minicoy & Amindivi Islands.
Grant of Loans for Construction of Hostels Formerly, the loans were sanctioned by the Government of 'India on the recommendations of the State Governments. Since the beginning of the year 1960-61, the procedure has been revised and the funds are placed at the disposal of the State Governments for grant of loans to the institutions direct. During 1960-61 all the State Governments were informed of the amounts allocated to them for granting loans for construction of hostels in respect of educational institutions. This included a sum of Rs. 10 lakhs provided for Basic education institutions. This amount
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allocated to each State, has been sanctioned to them for reloaning to the educational institutions for construction of hostels. A statement showing State-wise allocations and sanction of Rs. 10,00,000 for construction of-hostels for Basic educational institutions during the year 1960-61 is given below.
Sl. No. Name of State Amount
1. Andhra Pradesh -
2. Assam 40,000
3. Bihar 40,000
4. Gujarat -
5. Jammu & Kashmir 30,000
6. Kerala -
7. Madras 72,000
8. Madhya Pradesh 1,50,000
9. Maharashtra 75,000
10. Mysore 1,56,500
11. Orissa 40,000
12. Punjab 86,500
13. Rajasthan 2,00,000
14. Uttar Pradesh 60,000
15. West Bengal 50,000
Loan to Children's Book Trust The Ministry of Education sanctioned an interest bearing loan of Rs.7 lakhs to Children's Book Trust for setting up an adequately equipped press for the production of children's literature. The first instalment of loan of Its. 4 lakhs was released to Children's Book Trust in June, 1959. The release of second instalment of Rs. 2 lakhs was also sanctioned to Children's Book Trust in January 1961. In addition to it, a subsidy of Rs. 13,976.71, equal to the interest on a loan of Rs. 4 lakhs for one year,was also, sanctioned to Children's Book Trust on 4.1.1961. This subsidy is being sanctioned as the Trust could not obtain the payment in the year 1960-61 .
Mid-day Meals for Primary School Children The scheme of mid-day meals is hi operation in the States of Andhra Pradesh, Assam, Kerala, Madras, Mysore, Orissa, Uttar Pradesh, West Bengal and the Union Territories of Andaman & Nicobar Islands, Delhi, Manipur, Tripura, Pondicherry and Laccadive, Mincoy and Amindive Islands.
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Centrally Sponsored Scheme for Expansion of Girls Education and
Training of Women Teachers at the Elementary Stage The progress of this scheme which had a budget provision of Rs. 90 lakhs for the year 1960-61 was very satisfactory as the amount was fully utilised.
A sum of Rs. 68.50 lakhs had been allotted for the year to State Governments on the basis of the number of girls not in school On the basis of the proposals received from State Governments[ Union Territories, administrative approval was accorded for a Central share of Rs. 68,66,302. A new sub-scheme for provision of hostel facilities for girls in middle and secondary schools was initiated in 1960-61 and administrative approval for a total of Rs. 21,70,655 was issued to all State Governments on the basis of about 1 1/2 lakhs per State. Thus the total amount approved was Rs. 90.37 lakhs.
The Central assistance for the scheme is released through Ways & Means Advances. Finally a sum of Rs. 1,11,65,947 inclusive of commi- tted expenditure for 1959-60 was sanctioned through savings issued to the States as below.
Amount sanctioned
Name of State Main Scheme Hostel Total
(including Sub-scheme
committed
expenditure)
Rs. Rs. Rs.
1. Andhra Pradesh 8,98,910 1,57,500 10,56,410
2. Assam 1,86,000 1,51,886 3,37,886
3. Bihar 10,83,125 1,67,772 12,50,897
4. Gujarat 3,56,000 1,53,221 5,09,221
5. Jammu & Kashmir 1,04,016 45,000 1,49,016
6. Kerala 94,000 1,50,770 2,40,770
7. Madhya Pradesh 8,41,841 1,50,000 9,91,841
8. Madras 4,20,908 1,50,164 5,71,072
9. Maharashtra 5,79,000 1,46,250 7,25,250
10.Mysore 5,50,700 1,50,000 7,00,700
11.Orissa 4,10,860 1,41,300 5,52,160
12.Punjab 4,47,000 1,54,694 6,01,694
13.Rajasthan 5,28,000 1,50,000 6,78,000
14.Uttar Pradesh 19,15,070 152,098 20,67,168
15.West Bengal 5,79,862 1,50,000 7,29,862
89,95,292 21,70,655 1,11,65,947
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National Council for Women's Education