APPENDIX B
PROPOSAL FOR SETTING UP ADULT SCHOOLS
 

Since 1937 we have had in this country a continuous movement for adult literacy which has strengthened itself in recent years. The progress of literacy, however, is not up to our expectations and does not accord with the needs of the times. This is of course due to lack of proper motivation on the part of adults and one of the causes of the lack of motivation is that the adults have, nothing to look up to after they have achieved their literacy.

One way to remedy this lack of motivation, therefore, is to provide to the illiterate or semi-literate adults a ladder by which they can make good the chance of education they have missed in life, that is to say, to provide Adult schools where they can go up to the Matriculation examination and even beyond.

Our Constitution provides for equality of opportunity for all citizens. Equality of opportunity includes opportunity for all ages, that is to say, the privileges of School education need not be confined to children of school going age only. Hence it is, proposed that steps should be taken to set up Adult schools which will enable adults to take their various grade examinations up to the Matriculation. It is felt that there is a scope for such schools in urban and industrial areas where the people will be glad to avail of the opportunities if they are provided.

The Adult schools, therefore, may be set up in the first instance in the urban and industrial areas. Further, the adults should be expected to pay a part of the expenditure on these facilities in the form of school fees.

Two simultaneous steps are suggested to encourage such Adult schools. On the one hand, the State Governments should place the building and equipment of the schools owned by them at the disposal of Bodies which may take up the setting up of the schools in the evening time or they may encourage a private managements to use their schools for this purpose. All the State Governments may themselves start such schools in a few places. On the other hand, universities may be asked to allow adult students from such Adult schools to appear at their Entrance or Matriculation examinations.

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