APPENDIX A (g) REPORT ON THE PROGRESS OF AUDIO-VISUAL EDUCATION DURING THE YEAR 1956-57
Implementation of the Recommendations of the National Board for Audio Visual Education-The following major recommendations were made by the National Board for Audio-Visual 'Education in India at its second meeting held in May, 1955:-(i) Setting up of State Boards ; (ii) Introduction of AudioVisual Education in Teachers' Training Colleges; Exemption of operation of Cinematograph Act, 1952, for showing educational films in educational institutions.
Under the recommendation (i) the following State Governments have set up their own State Boards:-Delhi, Uttar Pradesh, Mysore, Orissa, Himachal" Pradesh, Bihar, and Punjab.
The State Government of Jammu & Kashmir have set up a departmental committe for Audio-Visual education. Manipur Administration and Bombay have created a post for Audio-Visual Officer.
Under the above recommendation (ii) of the Board the following States. have introduced Audio-Visual education as a special subject in Training Colleges: Andhra, Bombay, Kerala, Mysore, Orissa, Punjab., Madras, Bihar and Uttar Pradesh.
The State Governments of Orissa, Madras, Mysore, Punjab, Bombay,, Bihar, Kerala and U. P. have exempted all recognised educational institutions from the operation of the Section '10' of the Cinematograph Act, 1952, in. pursuance of recommendation (iii).
Exchange of films-An agreement for the exchange of negatives of films has been signed with the National Film Board of Canada. Under this agreement negatives of seven films have been approved. The work on the dubbing of six of these films is being taken up by the Films Division, Ministry of Information and, Broadcasting, Bombay. Dupe negatives and prints can also be exchanged. with Czechoslovakia, under an informal agreement. Agreement with the following countries for exchange of negatives is. being negotiated-Yugoslavis, Malaya, Italy, Poland and Indonesia.
National Institute for Audio- Visual Education-The Ministry of Education and Scientific Research have worked out a scheme for the establishment of a National Institute for Audio-Visual Education, in cooperation with. the Technical Cooperative Mission to India. The Unit will train teachers in the production. and use of various audiovisual aids like charts, exhibits, films and filmstrips. It will also undertake research in the relative effectiveness of these aids.
The Institute will offer two types of courses, a ten-month course and a three-month course. The, ten-month course will, provide intensive training to. personnel in the preparation and use of audio- visual aids and their integration with the school curricula and thrirty-four candidates will be trained yearly -
243
The three-month course wig, offer reorientation, courses in Audio -Visual, education. There will., be three such, courses in a year, training, one hundred and two candidates, The three-month course is expected, to start in January, 1958, while the ten-Month course will begin in June, 1958.
The Ministry of Education and Scientific Research have constituted a Working Group consisting of representatives of the Ministries of Information and Broadcasting, Health,, Community Development, Education and. Scientific Research, and a representative of the Indian Council for Agricultural. Research to finalize the plans for the Institute. The Working Group met on March 28, 1957 and approved the schemes in general.
Audio- Visual Wing-The construction of Audio-Visual Wing which Started in August, 1955, is now nearing completion. The office portion of the Wing has already been completed and finishing touches are being given to the auditorium and the garage. It is expected that the construction work of the Wing will be completed soon and the Ministry would be able to take its possession in January 1958.
Production, Programme-During 1956-57, eight films sponsored by this Ministry have been released and five films are under various stages of production.
The production programme for 1957-58 has been finalized in consultation, with the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting. The following films have been suggested:-(1) Institute of Technology, Kharagpur; (2) Birds of India, (3) Quiz films; and (4) Teaching of Elementary Mathematics.
Unesco Travellinq Library-Unesco has made available to the Government of India a Travelling Library of Visual Aids for Fundamental Education on December 6, 1956. The Library will visit ten Social Education Organisers Training Centres in India and will, remain in the country up to June 15, 1958. A sum of Rs. 4,500 has been sanctioned on its movement within India.
The Library is especially designed for demonstration and study in Social education centres in order to bring to the attention of field workers, knowledge of the material available and techniques successfully practised elsewhere. The Library contains material- on subjects organised in nine programmes, viz., (1) Agriculture, (2) Fruit Growing, (3) Cooperatives, (4) Community Development, (5) Literacy, (6) Women's Education and Child, Care, (7) Fly-Control and Cleanliness, (8) Diseases, and (9) Visual-Aid Techniques.
Production of Gramophone Records-All India Radio have set up a committee, on the suggestion of the Ministry of Education and; Scientific Research, to select and suggest items out of broadcast programmes of which gramophone records might be prepared for use in Secondary schools. The Ministry of Education and Scientific Research have also nominated representatives on the Committee.
Regional Audio-Visual Convention-A two-day Regional Audio-Visual Convention of the members of the Central Film Library was, organised. by the Audio-Visual Unit of the Ministry of Education and Scientific Research on 3rd, and 4th August, 1957, at New. Delhi, in order to stimulate teachers' interest in the greater use of audio-_visual aids in schools. Dr. P D Shukla Deputy Educational Adviser inaugurates the Convention, Mrs. H. J. Moos Education Officer, acted, as,the, Director of the, Convention. The Convention was attended by
244
51 teacher-delegates and observers. The Convention discussed the following subjects:-(1) Film Appreciation and Film Clubs; (2) Audio- Visual Education under the Second Five-Year Plan; and (3) Organisation and functioning of the Central Film Library.
An Audio-Visual Exhibition comprising various audio-Visual equipment and other related material organised on this occasion, remained open from 3rd to 7th August, 1957. The Exhibition WAS opened by Dr. E.A. Pires, Principal, Central Institute of Education.
An expenditure of Rs. 1,000 was incurred on this Convention.
Central Assistance to State Governments-A sum of Rs. 3 . 93 lakhs was paid to State Governments as Central assistance for the implementation of the following schemes : Establishment of Audio- Visual Sections, Organising Training Courses, Establishment of Audio- Visual Boards, Establishment of Film. Libraries, Creating Pools of Film Equipment, Introducing Audio-Visual Education in Teachers' Training Colleges, Supply of Radio Sets to High/Higher Secondary Schools, Setting up of a Mobile Audio-Visual Unit during 1956-57.
The first instalment of grant to States for 1957-58 has also been released.
Central Film Library-The Ministry of Education maintains a Central Film Library which stocks 16 mm. film/35 mm filmstrip etc. The membership is open to all recognised educational institutions and allied organisations. The rules of membership do not permit members to charge any fees from the audience. This Library is a film-lending library and has in its stock 3415 films, 1476 film strips and 590 charts. The types of films acquired by the Library cover four categories : (a) classroom instructional films; (b) socio-educational films; (c) outstanding feature films which are landmarks in the history of cinema; and (d) children's entertainment films. An average circulation of films today is about 650 per month. The library has also small collection of reference books and subscribes to outstanding periodicals on Audio-Visual education. A sum of Rs. 6,500 has been provided for the purchase of films/filmstrips, equipment etc. during 1957-58. The total number of members of the Central Film Library at present is 1,094. 65 previews of the films were arranged during the period under review.
The catalogue of films, filmstrips available in the Central Film Library has also been brought out and distributed to the members of Central Film Library. It gives brief information of the film and also its suitability for a particular type of audience. This catalogue serves as a first rate reference book on films and could be of much use to the film libraries in India. Under the development programme of the Central Film. Library, following outstanding feature films, entitled, Zero De Conduit, Pukar, Sikandar, Do Bigha Zamin, Ukiwarisoo, Pather Panchali, Wages of Fear, L'Atiante, Poil de Carotte, Tansen and Parineeta have been purchased during last year.
Mobile Cinema Van-A Mobile Cinema van was received as a gift by the Government of India from the Government of Australia in 1952. This van is primarily meant for experimental work in the field of Audio-Visual education and has been conducting film shows in the local educational institutions- The main object of the shows in. the educational institutions during the last few years has been to demonstrate the proper use of audio-visual aids for classroom
245
teaching. The popularity of these film shows is apparent from the fact that no fewer than 87 film shows were arranged during January to March this, year in comparison to the 40 film, shows during the same period in 1956. The mobile cinema van has also given demonstration on silk screen printing process in the local teachers Training colleges and now proposes to conduct some experiments to evaluate the audience reaction of some educational films.
Publication Programme-The Unit has brought out a quarterly journal, "Audio Visual Education". There will be four issues every year. Besides articles by experts each issue will carry reviews on books, films, filmstrips and other non-projected material, abstracts of articles and other interesting features on this subject. The first two issues are already out.
It is also proposed to bring out a few monographs on some selected topics of Audio-Visual education. Those already planned are on school broadcasts, film appreciation, making and using films. Apart from the publications mentioned above, the unit has been circulating reprints of the outstanding articles on Audio-Visual education to the State Governments, Teachers' Training colleges, Public schools, Social education centres and others to inform. them. of interesting advances that are being made in this particular field of education. Hindi translations of the reprints, plywood numbers have also been circulated to educational institutions. In implementation of the recommendations of the National Board for Audio- Visual Education, the work on the translation of teaching notes of films/filmstrips into Hindi has been taken up and two teaching notes have been translated so far.
Unit for the Production of Non-projected Visual Aids (UPVA)-Work relating to the prod-action on non-projected visual aids like charts, posters, maps has also been taken up. Recently the unit has produced two posters on Audio-Visual education and 20,000 copies of each have been printed. These can be purchased by the educational institutions from the Manager of Publications, Government of India, Delhi at an approximate cost of four annas per chart. The e is also a proposal to bring out a series of portraits of eminent Indians. The series will comprise men of letters, men of science, men of arts and culture. One pamphlet entitled, "Tips for Teachers" was produced by the Unit which contained information on the operation and maintenance of 16 mm. projector. Another pamphlet in the series has also recently been published which gives complete information on care of 16 mm films.
246