APPENDIX A (h) : REPORT OF THE STANDING COMMITTEE ON SOCIAL EDUCATION.
A Standing Committee of the Central Advisory Board of Education on Social Education Was appointed to advise the Government of India and the State Governments on matters connected with the Planning and Administration of Social Education. The following are the members of the Committee:-
1. Shri N.K. Sidhanta, Vice-Chancellor, Calcutta University, Calcutta.
2. Smt. Hansa Mehta, Vice-Chancellor, Baroda University, Baroda.
3. Shri T. Madiah Gowda, M.P, 118-South Avenue, New Delhi.
4. Dr. V.S. Jha, Vice-Chancellor, Banaras University, Banaras.
5. Shri A.R. Deshpande, Director) Fundamental Education Centre, 37-Friends Colony, New Delhi.
6. Smt. Kulsum Sayani, Editor, "Rahber" Rupa Villa, Cumballa Hill Road. Bombay.
7. Shri V. S. Mathur, Director, ISFEU Asian Trade Union College, Plot No. 566 C, Block 'N' New Alipur, Calcutta- 33
8. Shri Mushtaq Ahmad, Research Training and Production Centre, New Delhi (Jamia Millia).
9. Shri S. C. Dutta, Associate Secretary, Indian Adult Education Association, 30-Faiz Bazar, Delhi.
10. Shri Chet Singh, C/o. Quaker Centre, Rajpur Road Delhi.
11. Shri Janaradhan Rao Nagar, Pro-Chancellor, Vishwa Vidyapeeth, Udaipur.
12. Shri D.P. Nayar, Planning Commission, New Delhi.
13. Shri B.N. Mishra "Madhava", Deputy Director of Public Instruction (Social Education), Patna (Bihar).
14. Shri B.S. Saxena, Education Expansion Officer, Education Department, Government of U.P., Lucknow.
15. Shri Ananda Rao, Special Officer for Basic and Social Education, Hyderabad Government, Hyderabad.
16. Shri K. G. Saiyidain, Secretary, to the Government of India, Ministry of Education, New Delhi.
17. Dr. P.D. Shukla, Deputy Educational Adviser, Ministry of Education, New Delhi. (Secretary of the Committee)
The first meeting of the Committee was held at New Delhi on 16th and 17th July, 1956. A copy of the minutes of the meeting is enclosed.
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MINISTRY OF EDUCATION
Minutes of the Meeting of the Standing Committee on Social
Education Held on 16th and 17th July, 1956. The Standing Committee on Social Education of the Central Advisory Board of Education held its first meeting at 11 A.M. on the 16th July, 1956 in Room No. 48-A, North Block, Central Secretariat, New Delhi.
2. The following members of the Committee attended the meeting :-
1. Smt. Hansa Mehta, Vice-Chancellor, Baroda University, Baroda.
2. Shri S.C. Dutta, Associate Secretary, Indian Adult Education, 30-Faiz Bazar, Delhi.
3. Shri T. Madiah Gowda, M.P. 118, South Avenue, New Delhi.
4. Shri B.N. Mishra, "Madhava", Deputy Director,of Public Instruction, (Social Education), Patna, (Bihar)'.
5. Shri Mushtaq Ahmad, Research Training and Production Centre, Jamia Millia, New Delhi.
6. Shri Janardhan Rao Nagar, Pro-Chancellor, Vishwavidya- peeth, Udaipur.
7. Shri D.P. Nayar, Planning Commission, New Delhi.
8. Shri B.S. Saxena, Education Expansion Officer, Education Department, Government of Uttar Pradesh, Lucknow.
9. Smt. Kulsum Sayani, Editor, "Rahber" Rupa Villa, Cum- balla Hill Road, Bombay.
10. Shri K.G. Saiyidain, Secretary, Ministry of Education, New Delhi.
11. Dr. P.D. Shukla, Deputy Educational Adviser, Ministry of Education, New Delhi. (Secretary)
The following officers of the Ministry of Education, New Delhi, and the C.P.A. also attended the meeting :
12. Shri G.F. Mankodi, Deputy Secretary, C.P.A., New Delhi.
C.P.A.
13. Shri T.A. Koshi, Special Officer for Social Education, C.P.A., New Delhi.
14. Shri L.R. Sethi, Ministry of Education, New Delhi.
15. Shri Sohan Singh, Assistant Educational Adviser, Ministry of Education, New Delhi.
16. Shri P.C. Sharma, Education Officer, Ministry of Education New Delhi.
In the absence of the Chairman, Shri R. Chet Singh, Smt. Hansa Mehta was requested to take the Chair.
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3. In welcoming the members of the Committee Shri K. G. Saiyidain, Secretary, Ministry of Education, said that it is the policy of the Central Ministry of Education to associate non-officials with the work of the Government in various fields of education. In pursuance of this policy the Government of India has set up various bodies such as the Standing Committee for Basic Education. The functions of such Committees are:-
(a) to assist the Government in formulating the policy in the field of education pertaining to them and
(b) to act as a liaison body between the Government and the work being done by non-official agencies in the country.
In order that the Standing Committee for Social Education may be able to do its work effectively both official and non-official elements have been given representation on it. It is hoped that this Committee will be able to give the needed stimulus to Social education work in the country.
4. The Chairman then initiated the discussion on the first item (Social Education in the Second Five-Year Plan) of the Agenda.
5. The Committee generally approved the social education programme drawn up by the Ministry to be implemented during the Second Five Year Plan. The members, however, drew special attention of the Government to the following points :
(a) The Central Ministry of Education should specifically take up the responsibility for evaluation of Social education work. Much of this type of work will be done by voluntary, organisations and State governments in the course of their own work. But the Government of India should implement projects for evaluating important aspects of Social Education Work. The National Fundamental Education Centre which will come into being shortly is a most suitable agency for not only conducting such evaluation projects but also guiding the evaluation work of State Governments and voluntary organisations by imparting the proper techniques of evaluation and also possibly by training evaluation teams. The National Fundamental Education Centre will itself apply these techniques in selected areas for special aspects of Social Education as mentioned earlier.
In this connection Shri Mankodi suggested that the whole of India may be divided into four or five zones for evaluation of Social Education work.
(b) Voluntary organisations should be encouraged to start Janta Colleges. It is necessary that the Instructors in Janta Colleges should be adequately trained for their work. The Committee appointed the following Sub-committee to go into the curriculum etc. of training centres for the instructors of Janta Colleges:-
Shri Madiah Gowda
Shri J.R. Nagar
Shri D. P. Nayar
Shri B.S. Saxena
Shri Sohan Singh (Convener).
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The Sub-Committee was asked to submit its report during the present session of the Committee.
(c) The Ministry should work out its programme of seminars in a particular year in advance and inform the persons concerned of this programme so that they may have sufficient time for preparing for these seminars.
(d) Voluntary organisations should, as far as possible, be associated with the working of the National Fundamental Education Centre.
(e) Some funds should be specifically allocated for research work. In this connection it was mentioned that the National Fundamental Education Centre should encourage research work in the country and coordinate such work as is being done in different parts of India.
In this connection it was explained that Government of India, apart from whatever research it does itself have a scheme for assisting voluntary organisations under which any such organisation of an All, India character carrying on research work can be assisted in doing so. The State Governments in addition to carrying on the research themselves were similarly expected to assist voluntary organisations of local importance who are carrying on research work.
6. The Committee requested that the schemes for the evening institute for workers and for Social Education in urban areas should come up for discussion when they are ready, at the next meeting of the Committee.
7. The Committee desired that the members should be asked to send their suggestions on the following two points later on :-
(a) Suitable research projects which the Ministry may take up or sponsor through existing agencies.
(b) The specific subjects on which literature for Social education workers may be brought out.
8. At this point the Meeting adjourned for lunch and resumed its discussion at 3 P.M. when Item 2 (Social Education in the C.P./ N.E.S. Areas) of the Agenda was taken up.
9. In the course of the discussion the Committee noticed the following handicaps in the way of Social Education Work in the Development Blocks which have got to be overcome if the work is to proceed smoothly and also if the tempo of work is to increase :-
(i) Insufficient funds are provided for Social Education.
(ii) Social Education Organisers have to cover too large an area.
(iii) Lack of conveyance at their disposal immobilises them and, therefore, restricts their field of operation.
(iv) The major part of Social Education work is still confined to literacy and even the literacy campaigns are not organised with the seriousness they deserve. Every Block should lay down its targets for literacy and try to fulfil those targets.
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(v) The workers are drawn from urban areas while they have to work in rural areas.
10. The Committee also made the following observations
(a) Some pilot projects should be taken up for more intensives Social education work. The achievements of such projects should be adequately assessed and publicized.
(b) Research should be undertaken to see how occasions such as fairs and festivals can be utilised for promoting social education.
(c) The Social Education Organisers should make development programmes in their areas as the vehicles for Social Education.
(d) It should be considered if intelligent Village Level Workers can be, recruited to Social Education Organisers' posts.
(e) Social Education Organisers should-: coordinate the work of voluntary organisations working in their areas.
(f) In addition to the regular training courses the Social Education Organisers should be brought into brief refresher courses after they have worked in the field for some time.
(g) The Directors of Social Education Organisers Training Centres should be associated in the selection of Social. Education Organisers.
(h) While Social Education Organisers should be generally graduates, in cases where a person may have exceptionally good experience or record of work in a field similar to that of Social Education Organisers, he may be selected for the post of Social Education Organiser irrespective of the lack of graduation qualifications.
11. In the course of the discussion Shri Mankodi addressed the Meeting and clarified various points concerning Social Education Organisers, their selection, qualifications and work etc. He also explained that though it is recognised on all hands that Social Education Organisers have too large an area to cover, steps have been taken to mitigate this handicap by developing the concept of a full social education programme, a large programme and the minimum. programme, Also Block Development Officers are now having a better idea of Social Education work and how they can assist it in their Blocks. The budget for Social Education, he said, was inadequate, but it can only be raised through the development of the economic level of a people.
12. The Committee adjourned after this and met again at 3 P.M. on 17th July, 1956 in Room No. 51 under the chairmanship of Smt. Hansa Mehta to discuss item No. 3 of the agenda (Education Departments and Social Education in the C.P./N.E.S. areas). The Committee recommended the following pattern of coordination of Social education work by Education Department and the Development Department
(1) The Social Education Organiser should be tinder the Education Department and should be answerable for the
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technical quality of his work to the District Social Education Organiser.
(2) The Education Department' should be responsible for all aspects of social education work in the development as in the non-development areas, and for the broad allocation of funds provided for social education in the C.P./N.E.S. areas.
(3) Every month, or at 'least at the beginning of every season, the District Social Education Organisers should sit down with the Block. Development Officer in his District and reduce to concrete terms the programmes to be carried out by each Social Education Organiser. Any difference of opinion should be referred to and settled by the District Officer in charge of development work in the District.
(4) After this programme has been settled, the Block Department Officer will have the full responsibility of seeing that the work is carried out according to the programme. For this purpose he should have the' necessary control over the Social Education Organiser.
(5) Every Social Education Organiser should prepare two copies of his periodical report. One of these copies will go to the District Social Education Organiser and through him to' the Education Department. The other will follow its assigned path to the Development Department.
(6) The first confidential report on the general aspects of a Social Education Organiser's work will be written by the Block Department Officer. This will cover the non- technical aspects, like his cooperativeness, initiative industriousness and wide and tolerant outlook. This will then be forwarded to the District Social Education Organiser who will report on the technical side of the Social Education Organiser's work and send the report to the State Education Department.
(7) A Social Education Organiser should have his chance of promotion to the post of Block Development Officer or a District Social Education Organiser, in accordance with the capacity he shows in his work.
13. The Committee also considered the report of their Sub- Committee set up on 16th July, 1956 for going into the question of Training Centre for the Instructors of Janta Colleges. The Committee agreed with the following views of the Sub-Committee
(1) The Centre should primarily give a full length course to administrative and supervisory staff of Janta Colleges mostly Principals.
(2) The Syllabus of the training courses for the principals of Janta Colleges should cover the following subjects :-
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(a) All the subjects mentioned in Section VIII of the report of the Seminar on Janta Colleges including the following subjects :-
(i) The extension machinery in the Development Blocks.
(ii) Rural Engineering.
(iii) Essentials of Indian culture and its underlying unity.
(iv) A broad understanding of world religions.
(v) Administration of Janta Colleges.
The course will not go into the details of these subjects. It will give a general knowledge of all of them so that the principals may be able to exercise effective supervision . on the teaching of these subjects.,
(b) Teaching methods. The teaching methods will include the following :-
(i) Organisation of group discussion.
(ii) Use of audio-visual aids and preparation of simple audio-visual aids.
(iii) Organisation of field trips.
(iv) Organisation of demonstrations.
(v) Organisation of reading clubs and study circles.
(3) Manuals should be written on various subjects included in the course laid down above for the training of principals of Janta Colleges. For this purpose experienced persons, mostly those working in the existing Janta Colleges, should be approached.