APPENDIX A (j) : REPORT OF THE DEVELOPMENT OF AUDIO-VISUAL EDUCATION IN INDIA DURING 1955-56
National Board for Audio-Visual Education The recommendations of the National Board for Audio-Visual Education in India made at the Second Meeting in May, 1955 have been taken up for implementation. The attention of the' State Governments have also been drawn to the advisability of implementing the recommendations with which they are concerned. Of these special mention may be made of the following :-
1. Exempting cinematograph exhibition of educational films in recognised schools from the operation of section `10' of the Cinematograph Act, 1952. The State Governments, of Punjab, Bombay, Madhya Pradesh, Andhra, Travancore Cochin, Assam and Bihar have issued the necessary notifications in this connection.
2. Introducing Audio-Visual Education as an important subject, in Teachers Training, Colleges. The State Governments of Madras and Bhopal have issued the necessary orders. Other State Governments are considering the implemention of the recommendations.
The Second Five-Year Plan of Audio-Visual Education The audio-visual educational development schemes of various States for the year 1956-57, as approved by the Planning Commission were examined by the Ministry. The quantum of Central assistance and the expenditure sanctioned for the current year has been conveyed to States. The total Central share comes to about eight lakhs.
The following is the position of the scheme included in the Second Five-Year Plan for implementation by the Central Government :-
1. Publication of an Audio-Visual Educational journal. The staff for the publication unit has been sanctioned and the publication will be started as soon as the staff is recruited.
2. Establishment of the Central Audio-Visual Education Institute.
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The Planning Commission has recently approved the scheme with the total provision of Rs. 75/- lakhs.
A working group consisting of the representatives of the Ministries of Information and Broadcasting, Health, Community Development, Education and I.C.A.R. has been constituted to study various aspects of the scheme in detail.
3. Organising of Seminars and Conferences :-A seven day All India Teachers' Conference on Audio-Visual Education was organised in Delhi from July 7 to 13, 1956 and was attended by 78 teacher delegates from various States'. The Conference made recommendations on various aspects of audio-visual education like Black Board, Bulletin Board, films, filmstrips, school Broadcasts, field-trips and film appreciation. The State Governments have been requested"- to implement the recommendations.
4. Exchange of Educational Films.
An agreement for the exchange of films has been signed with the Government of Canada. A film entitled Riches of the Earth has so far been supplied to the Government of India under this agreement.
5. Development of the Central Film Library :-Under this scheme eight film classics and 50 duplicate prints have been acquired for the Central Film Library.
Production of Films The production programme of educational films has made a definite progress and the following films sponsored by the Ministry have been released:
1. Basis of progress.
A documentary on Indian Institute of Science, Bangalore.
2. Seven Isles.
The first educational film (on Bombay) in the series "Cities of India" produced for use in Secondary Schools.
3. Physical Features of India.
An educational film for use in geography classes of Secondary Schools.
4. Life along the Godavari.
An instructional film in the series 'Rivers of India' produced for use in Secondary Schools.
5. Romance of Reading. A documentary on Delhi Public Library.
A film on Secondary education entitled The School has been pro- duced by the T.C.M. to India in cooperation with the Ministry.
The production programme of-educational, teaching and instructional films of this Ministry for the year 1956-57 has been finalised.
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Eight films will be taken up for production during the year. The basic material for these films have already been sent to the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting.
Production of non-Projected Visual Aids Intimation has been sent to all State Governments and members of the Central Film Library regarding the publication of the brochure 'Tips for Teachers' which gives useful suggestion on the handling of projectors.
The Unit is examining the possibilities of producing some charts on mass scale for distribution at cheap rates to Secondary Schools in India. The Unit has made charts on the development of audio-visual education in India.
Clearing House Function To joster further interest in audio-visual education, reprints of the following three articles were distributed to the State Govern- ments, members of the Central Film Library and Teachers Training Colleges :
1 . Plywood Number, by
E. Milton Grassell, Education Screen (Oct., 1955)
2. The use of Audio-Visual Aids in Teaching
Deaf Children, by A. Bates.
Look and Listen (March, 1955)
3. Tape Recorder as a Teaching Aid
by William K. Alton; Visual Education
(December, 1954).
Publications The following publications were distributed to State Governments and others concerned :
(1) Proceedings of the Second Meeting of the National Board for Audio-Visual Education.
(2) Report on the Audio-Visual Educational Seminar organised in Delhi during May-July, 1954.
(3) Report on the Indo-Australian Seminar organised at Lucknow during November, 1955.
Central Film Library The Central Film Library continued to acquire and loan films, filmstrips and other audio-visual aids. It stocks 2830 films and 1458 filmstrips. The membership rose from 730 to 947 during the year. The circulation of films during the current year up to 31st October 1956 is 7366. The library also continued to acquire films of special interest in film appreciation and study of film as an art. Of these, special mention may be made of Zero de Conduite, The Quiet one, Jeen Vigo's L' Atalants and Poil de Carotte, Sohrab Modi's Pukar and Sikander and Do Bigha Zamin by Bimal Roy.
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Reports of the States on the development of Audio-
Visual Education during the year 1955-56.
Andhra Two intensive four-day training courses were organised at Kurnool and Tadepallegudem for training teachers in the handling and maintenance of modern aids to education. 48 teachers were benefitted by the course. In addition to this, 99 teachers were given training at the Central Film Library, Madras.
Two audio-visual, exhibitions were organised at Kurnool and Rajahmundry for a period of one week, and prizes for the best exhibits were awarded. The State Government have, further issued instructions for the utilisation of 5% of the audio-visual fee for the preparation of various aids in schools.
Forty-four schools were equipped with the 16mm projectors, 58 schools with 35mm filmstrip projectors, 65 schools with radio sets, while 61 schools purchased Tape Recorders during the year. The State Film Library purchased 138 films and ten filmstrips during the year, in addition to film equipment.
Two meetings of the audio-visual Committee were held during the year.
Assam All pupil-teachers in Normal and Guru-Training Institutions are now regularly trained in the production and use of non-projected visual aids. A fortnight training course was organised in audio- visual education in which 36 inspecting officers and ten Secondary school Teachers were trained in the technique of preparing Khadda- graph, puppets and other visual aids. 53 charts have been purchased and two exhibitions were organised in the State.
The Audio-Visual Unit attached to the Social Education Department has purchased one projector, one generator and 18 films. Films were issued to Secondary Schools and Engineering Institutions. 105 filmshows were organised in local schools.
The Publicity Department distributed community radio sets to village libraries, Community Centres and Village schools.
Four teachers were deputed to attend the All India Teachers' Conference on Audio-Visual Education held at Delhi in July, 1956.
Bombay Two Refresher Courses were organised during the summer vacations in order to provide trained personnel to educational institutions, the course stressed the need of producing simple non-projected visual aids by the teachers. 91 teachers were trained. Facilities were also offered to all teachers under training in various Training Colleges for familiarising them with the use of various audio-visual aids. A special training course for training operators of the Publicity Directorate in maintenance and repairs of projectors was organised and 36 operators from eleven districts were trained.
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The State Film Library continued to acquire films, filmstrips and slides. 6361 filmshow lectures were conducted by the State Government during the year under report as against 5700 during the year 1954-55. The services of the Inspector of Visual Education were placed at the disposal of the Government of India for working as Deputy Director in the Indo-Australian Seminar at Lucknow.
Coorg Instructions have been issued to all schools to produce simple charts and models for use in the class-room. Museum cases have been supplied to all Senior Basic Schools A the State.
A film projector was supplied to Government High Schools, Somwarpat. Two teachers were deputed for training in Audio-Visual Education at Trivandrum.
Kerala A one-month seminar on audio-visual education was organised by the Government during December-January, 1956. Fifty teachers were given training in the use of various audio-visual aids. One officer of the Education Department was deputed to attend the Indo-Australian Seminar on audio-visual education held in Lucknow in November, 1955.
Madras In order to encourage the setting up of school film libraries, the State Government has issued a list of approved films and film- strips to various schools which are equipped with a set of minimum audio-visual equipment. The State Government has also approved a petromax filmstrip projector and intimation of this has been sent to all rural schools for extension of audio-visual activities.
Mysore The State Advisory Board for Audio-Visual Education was cons- tituted in October, 1955 with a pannel of sixteen members. The first meeting of the Board was held in December, 1955. A separate Section of audio-visual education has been created in the State Government under the charge of full-time officer.
Audio-visual education has been introduced by an additional sub- ject in B. Ed. Classes in the University Teachers' College since 1955-56.
Financial assistance were given to schools for the following work :--
1. Educational excursions
2. Collection of material for school museums
3. Preparation of teaching aids in schools
Orissa The State Government produced three charts on the removal of untouchability and illiteracy and five gramophone records dealing with this superstitions prevailing among people and on self-defence against various diseases.
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Eighteen 16mm films were purchased for the State Film Library which circulates films freely to Schools and Community Centres. One filmstrip on untouchability has been produced by the Government. The Mobile Cinema Unit gave 110 shows. The films dealing with the development programmes under the Five Year Plan were widely screened.
Special attention has been given to produce suitable social dramas for the uplifting of the people. Two plays have been produced-One showing that ploughing is a healthy occupation and the other on the education of women. Fifty performances of these plays were organised by the State Government. The State, Government, further, participated in seven exhibitions held at different places.
Punjab All India Radio, Jullunder, has started school-broadcasts since January 1955. The introductory material is sent by the All India Radio to all schools in advance for the preparation of the Classes to listen to the educational broadcasts.
The Government Training College, Jullundur, is the main Centre for the production and training of various audio-visual aids. All pupil-teachers are given training in the operation of projectors and pupil has to produce some charts as a part of the training course. The college has produced three colour films. The college has, further, experimented in the manufacture of Filmstrip Projector, Magic Lantern and Epidiascope with the help of ordinary laboratory lenses.
Sixty-one filmshows were organised in local schools, Hospitals & Social Education Centres. The College Library stocks 100 films 'which are loaned free to Schools.
A one-month Seminar on audio-visual education was organised at the Government Training College, Jullundur, in March, 1956, to train teachers and education officers various districts.
Pepsu The High Schools in the State are making greater use of audio- visual aids. Some of the High Schools have been equipped with radio- sets and film projectors.
Tripura Greater use was made of various audio-visual aids in schools. Efforts were also made to produce non-projected visual aids in various schools,
Uttar Pradesh A meeting of the State Audio-Visual Education Board was held in November, 1955 at Lucknow, to consider the various problems of audio- visual education in the State.
The State Government helped the Government of India in organising Indo-Australian Seminar on audio-visual education in November, 1955. The Production Department of educational films have produced five films and two filmstrips. The State have five Mobile Cinema Vans for screening films in rural area and during the year 330 filmshows were given.
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West Bengal The Film Library of Education Directorate carried on its usual activities of purchase and loan of films and showing of films. The State Film Library stocks 397 films and 786 films were issued to educational institutions during the year. The Mobile -Cinema Unit arranged 398 filmshows which were attended by 1,20,000 persons. Seven Social Education organisations, equipped with mobile cinema vans by the State Governments, carried on their work in rural areas, while nine education institutions were provided with audiovisual equipment with the assistance of the State Government.
The State Government have given grants upto Rs. 37,700/- for distribution among deserving folk-recreation parties and performers for organising Yatra, Kavi, Tarja, Kathakata, and Kirtan and for organising training courses for folk-artists. During the year 1955- 56, 853 folk-recreational performances were organised in the State.
Other States Nil reports have been received from Andaman & Nicobar Islands, Kutch, Manipur, Minicoy & Amindive Islands.
The States of Bihar, Delhi, Jammu & Kashmir, Himachal Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh and Rajasthan have not yet sent their reports in spite of repeated reminders sent to them.