APPENDIX A (b) REPORT ON THE PROGRESS OF EDUCATIONAL DEVELOPMENT PLANS IMPLEMENTED BY THE GOVERNMENT OF INDIA
BASIC AND SOCIAL EDUCATION
BASIC EDUCATION
SCHEMES IMPLEMENTED BY CENTRAL GOVERNMENT
MODEL BASIC SCHOOL, DELHI The Standing Committee on Basic Education at its meeting held in October 1955, recommended that as a concrete step for creating enlightened opinion about Basic education the establishment of a Model Basic School in New Delhi, be taken up.
Delhi/New Delhi is felt to be the beat place for the purpose because of the following reasons:-
(i) The school is to be an urban school.
(ii) If it is located in Now Delhi, it will be possible for the Ministry of Education to supervise its working effectively.
(iii) It will meet the objection put forth by many that Basic education is an inferior type of education meant only for rural areas and that people belonging to the upper strata of society do not sand their children to Basic schools.
(iv) The school will also be used for demonstrating to the public and to the foreign cultural delegations and dignitaries the efficacy of Basic education and its achievements under favourable circumstances.
2. To work out the details of this school, it was considered useful to pool together the ideas and experiences of some competent persons in the field. Accordingly, a working group was constituted and they have suggested that it should be conceived as a post-Basic school. A detailed scheme regarding the school is under consideration.
NATIONAL INSTITUTE OF BASIC EDUCATION The National Institute of Basic Education established by the Government of India, under the Ministry of Education, in February, 1956, continued work on the activities reported to the last meeting and have in addition taken up work on the following:
1. Preparing publications
(a) Basic Education Abstract
(b) Brochure on the Progress of Basic Education
(c) Handbook and Pamphlet Series:
(i) Exhibitions in Basic Education (in press)
(ii) Research in Basic Education-Some Suggestions (being finalised)
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(iii) Textbooks in Basic Education (being edited)
(iv) Trends in Curriculum-making for Graduate Basic Training Courses (in progress)
2. Collecting information and serving as a clearing house
(a) Preparation of proformas for collecting information from all over India about the development of Basic education
(b) Collection and analysis of correlated lesson notes and publication of a handbook on correlated teaching
3. Conducting research
(a) Measuring educational potentiality of crafts (Part I in draft form; part II in process)
4. Exhibition and Seminars
(a) Participation in All-India Educational Exhibition during the UNESCO Session (Nov., 1956)
(b) Preparing working-papers for Seminars
5. Participating in meetings and conferences and rendering consultation services
6. During 1957-58, it is proposed to complete and undertake. the various activities mentioned above. In addition, it is anticipated that the following new activities which have been already proposed will be completed:-
(a) A handbook for social studies for classes I and II of Basic schools
(b) Development of schemes for
(i) the preparation of textbooks and handbooks, both for children and teachers source books for Basic teachers
(ii) the preparation of source books for Basic teachers
(c) The publication of a quarterly journal on Basic education
(d) Undertaking field studies in the Basic schools at Delhi
An Advisory Committee of the National Institute of Basic Education has been recently appointed by Government, and its first meeting to review the work of the Institute and suggest a programme of development was hold on 27th July, 1957. Dr. K. L. Shrimali, Minister of State in the Ministry of Education and Scientific Research, is the Chairman of this Committee and the Director of the Institute Shri J. K. Shukla is its Secretary.
ESTABLISHMENT OF ALL-INDIA COUNCIL FOR ELEMENTARY EDUCATION The Government of India have set up an All-India Council for Elementary Education. The Council is an advisory body and is to consist of 23 members including 14 representatives from State Governments, one representative each of the Planning Commission, Central Advisory Board of Education and the All-India Council for Secondary Education and the Ministry of Community Development. There will be one Principal of a Training college and two educationists connected with the fields of Basic education, Girls' education and education of backward classes to be nominated by the ]Union Minister for Education.
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The Council will advise the Central and the State Governments on all matters relating to Elementary education and prepare programmes for the early implementation of Article 45 of the Constitution. It will also assist in organising research in the administrative, financial and pedagogic problems of Elementary education and in the production of suitable literature for teachers and educational administrators for improving the quality of Elementary education and enforcing compulsory attendance.
The names of members of the Council are under finalization. Names of State representatives are still awaited from a few States.
REPORT OF THE PROGRESS OF EDUCATION OF THE SCHEDULED TRIBES AND
AREAS IN VARIOUS STATES WITH SPECIAL. REFERENCE TO EDUCATIONAL
DEVELOPMENT SCHEMES, UNDER ARTICLE 275(i) OF THE CONSTITUTION-1956-57
Under Article 275(i) of the Constitution the Ministry of Home Affairs gives, grants for the purpose of promoting the welfare of scheduled tribes and areas. The reports received from the State Governments for the year 1956-57 in this regard are as below (Statements III-VI that follow).
STATEMENT III
Grants-in-aid under Article 275(i) of the Constitution-Schemes for the
Welfare of Scheduled Castes (Removal of Untouchability) during 1956-57
SI. Amount Amount
No. States sanctioned utilized Remarks
Rs. Rs.
1. Assam 60,700 1,21,300
2. Bihar 6,02,500 8,43,395
3. Bombay 1,25,775 71,647
4. Orissa 64,000 52,000
5. West Bengal 1,02,200 Nil
6. Madhya Bharat 3,95,200 1,04,772
7. Mysore 2,35,000 Information not
received
8. Pepsu 2,64,600
9. Rajasthan 2,06,748 2,49,147
10. Ajmer 21,000 18,000
11. Coorg 87,500 51,155
12. Manipur 4,000 Information not
received
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STATEMENT IV
Grants-in-aid under Article 275(i) of the Constitution-Schemes for the
Welfare of Scheduled Tribes during 1956-57
SI. State Amount Amount
No. sanctioned utilized Remarks
Rs. Rs.
1. Bihar 3,20,875 5,23,512
2. Bombay 2,70,225 22,500
3. Madras 39,563 22,219
4. Orissa 8,62,242 17,07,355
5. West Bengal 2,40,000 2,003
6. Hyderabad 44,668 49,871
7. Madhya Bharat 1,77,960 38,000
8. Rajasthan 62,555 57,490
9. Saurashtra 28,932 Nil
10. Travancore-Cochin 88,712 18,453
11. Ajmer 20,500 14,035
STATEMENT V
Grants-in-aid under Article 275(i) of the Constitution-Schemes for the
Welfare of Ex-Criminal Tribes during 1956-57
SI Amount Amount
No. States sanctioned utilized Remarks
Rs. Rs.
1. Andhra 2,850 4,145
2. Bihar 1,800 65
3. Hyderabad 10,467 9,692
4. Madhya Bharat 6,333 9,200
5. Mysore 1,200 600
6. Rajasthan 26,733 24,384
7. Saurashtra 15,000 7,715
8. Ajmer 11,000 12,423
9. Kutch 54,400 24,288
10. Pepsu 4,666 Nil
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STATEMENT VI
Grants-in-aid under Article 275(i) of the Constitution-Schemes for the
Welfare of other Backward Classes during 1956-57
SI. Amount Amount Remarks
No. States sanctioned utilized
Rs. Rs.
1. Andhra 90,000 1,80,000
2. Madhya Pradesh 73,000 1,46,400
3. Madras 3,10,112 5,91,634
4. Hyderabad 13,138 4,172
5. Madhya Bharat 12,667 9,500
6. Pepsu 47,500 *9,921 *Utilized
during the
first six
months
7. Rajasthan 82,133 1,31,655
8. Saurashtra 3,93,200 2,62,500
9. Ajmer 5,000 4,908
10. Coorg 20,000 27,616
SOCIAL EDUCATION
Institute for Library Science The Institute which would undertake the training of District and Central State Librarians will be set up in close collaboration with the University of Delhi. All preliminary formalities have been completed and the scheme in its final shape has been referred to the Ministry of Finance for final concurrence. It is expected to start the training of the first batch of librarians as soon as the concurrence is received from the Ministry of Finance.
National Fundamental Education Centre Efforts are being made, to acquire a building for the hostel for trainees and also land for a permanent building for the Centre.
The selection of the Assistant Director and the other Instructor staff has been finalised by the U.P.S.C. and the posts offered to the selected candidates. It is expected that the staff will join soon.
Social Education in Urban Areas The Scheme is to be implemented through the various State Governments and therefore it has been referred to their, for comments. This Ministry is pressing the State Governments for an early reply. On receipt of this information from the State Governments, steps will be taken to finalise the scheme. A copy of the Scheme as it stands now is enclosed (Annexure I).
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Institute -of Workers' Education This Scheme under the Second Five-Year Plan envisages the setting tip of a pilot Workers' Institute in a city where there is a large labour population The Scheme will be implemented after approval of the Ministry of Finance, to whom it has been referred, has been obtained.
Training Institute for the Personnel of Janata Colleges Since the speed of setting up new Janata Colleges was less than expected, it was felt that it may be desirable to explore the possibility of the National Fundamental Education Centre itself taking up this work. This will be done when the Centre is in full swing.
Advisory Committee for Libraries An Advisory Committee for Libraries has been set up to survey the existing conditions of libraries in India and submit its recommendations to the Government on its future library policy.
The functions of the Committee will be:
1. To recommend the future library structure in India.
2. To recommend the form of cooperation between the library and Social education set-up.
3. To go into the question of training of librarians and the conditions of their service.
4. To make recommendations on the administrative and financial measures necessary to support the future library set-up in India.
SCHEMES OF ENCOURAGEMENT AND PRODUCTION OF
LITERATURE FOR NEO-LITERATES AND CHILDREN
Prize Scheme for Best Books for Neo-Literates Since 1954, the Government of India have been awarding prizes on best books for neo-literates in all regional languages. In 1956, 35 prizes of Rs. 500 each and 5 prizes of Rs. 1,000 each were awarded to authors of books which were considered outstanding. 1,000 copies of each of these prize-winning books have been purchased for distribution in Community Projects and N.E.S. Blocks. A detailed list giving the prize-winning books (1954-56) and authors is given at Annexure II.
Prize Scheme for Best Books for Children In 1956, as a result of the Second Prize Competition for Children's Literature in all regional languages, 23 prizes of Rs. 500 each were awarded to authors of 23 books in two age groups, 3-6 and 7- 14. 2,000 copies each of prize-winning books have been purchased for distribution. The books which were awarded prizes during 1956-57 are listed in Annexure III.
Literary Workshops The training of authors for writing literature for neo-literates and for children is to continue in the Second Five-Year Plan period, four workshops being assigned for training authors in the technique of writing for children and four in the technique of writing for neo- literates. For the year 1956-57 eight workshops were assigned to the States of Assam, Bombay, West Bengal, Delhi, Kerala, Orissa and Madras. The State Government of Bihar, however, did not implement
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the project. During 1956-57 workshops for neo-literates were organised in Assam Madras and Orissa, and those for children in Bombay, Kerala, West Bengal and Delhi.
Vocabulary Research Units Research into the vocabulary of the common people in a certain area is conducted in cooperation with the various State Governments. A small team of experts visit the villages of the locality selected for the experiment. A taperecorder is used for collecting the vocabulary. The vocabulary thus collected is sifted and graded and model books for neo-literates prepared out of these vocabularies. During 1956-57, three such units were organised in West Bengal, Bihar and Kerala. Fifty per cent of the total expenditure is met by the Central Government, while the rest is borne by the State Government concerned.
Popular Encyclopaedia During 1956-57 the first volume of Gyan Sarover, the popular encyclopaedia in Hindi which is proposed to be published in five volumes, was published through Maktaba Jamia Ltd. 10,000 copies of the first edition of Volume I were sold out within a record period of about five months and a second edition, improved and duly revised, is under preparation. Work on subsequent volumes is also proceeding apace. All the five volumes of the Encyclopaedia are expected to be compiled and published by December, 1959.