APPENDIX A(E)-- REPORT ON THE DEVELOPMENT OF AUDIO-VISUAL EDUCATION IN INDIA
During the year under review, the following developments occurred in the field of Audio-Visual education at the Centre and in the States:
CENTRE In pursuance of one of the recommendations made at the Audio- Visual Education Conference held in October 1951, the Ministry has set up a National Board for Audio-Visual Education to coordinate the work being done in this field in the country and to advise the Central and State, Governments on all matters relating to AudioVisual education in the country. The first meeting of the Board was held at New Delhi on May 6th, 7th, 1953, under the chairmanship of Shri K. G. Saiyidain, Joint Secretary to the Government of India.
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The Board recommended the setting up of a nucleus unit in the Ministry of Education for undertaking research in the production of educational charts, posters and other non-projected visual aids. It also recommended the setting up of State Visual Education Boards, State and Regional film libraries and the publication of periodicals giving information regarding Audio-Visual education in India and abroad. The proceedings of the meeting are under publication and will be shortly available.
The Ministry organized a seminar, conducted by two experts-whose services were obtained through Unesco-for training selected persons in the methods of the production of similar visual aids. The first seminar, held at Delhi at the Central Institute of Education, was attended by trainees from the various States and Associated Projects, mostly in northern India. Training was -imparted in the different techniques of producing filmstrips, posters and charts useful in Basic and Social education programmes. A similar seminar is now being held in Mysore for the benefit of trainees from the southern States and Associated Projects. The duration of each seminar is three months.
The Ministry has set up two film units at the Documentary Film Production Centre in Bombay for the production of special educational films. A dozen educational films are expected to be produced during the year 1953-54. The subjects for these films, approved by the National Board for Audio-Visual Education, relate to class work, Social education and children's entertainment. The prints of these films will be available to the State Governments. educational institutions and allied organizations at nominal cost.
The central film library of the Ministry has 1500 16 mm films, 1500 filmstrips, 350 charts and posters. The present membership of the library is 465 and the circulation of films and filmstrips during the year 5,500. With effect from January 1953 the booking-card system for the loan of films and filmstrips has been introduced with a view to making it possible for the members to ensure the advance booking of films and filmstrips. The facilities for advance booking will, it is hoped, encourage teachers to plan the use of films and filmstrips, integrating them with normal classroom activity.
STATES The recommendations of the Audio-Visual Education Conference were brought to the notice of the State Governments. A report of the outstanding developments in each State is given below.
AJMER A board of Audio-Visual education has been set up that is formu- lating a general policy with regard to the production and increased use of Audio-Visual aids in education.
An educational caravan consisting of one cinema van, two exhi- bition vans and a mobile stage is being fitted up. In addition. the State has been allotted one cinema van which was received by the Central Government as a gift from the Australian Government
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under the Technical Cooperation Scheme of the Colombo Plan. The cinema van has visited more than 100 villages and is being used for Social education work in the rural areas.
ANDAMAN AND NICOBAR ISLANDS Nil report.
BIHAR The Standing Literature Expert Committee guided the publication of one illustrated chart, three illustrated primers, in addition to many other pamphlets and books containing suitable illustrations.
The Government has purchased two 16 mm projectors during the year under review, bringing the total to six. These are being utilized for the regular showing of educational films in schools. 54 films have been added to the library maintained by the Department. 42 projection lanterns, in addition to the previous 33, have been purchased along with 5,695 additional slides for use in the rural areas.
60 radios have been purchased for supply to institutions that can meet one-third of the cost of the set, in addition to the 222 supplied prior to 1952-53. The School broadcast programme was initiated by the All-India Radio, Patna.
A refresher training course was arranged for the four Mod Mandalies that tour the State under the general Social education scheme.
Three officers of the Education Department were deputed to the Unesco seminar for training in the production of Audio-Visual aids.
BILASPUR The four Adult education centres located in schools have been equipped with radios. The Education Department has purchased one projector for showing films in schools.
Middle schools have been supplied with maps and charts.
BOMBAY Fourteen new projecting centres have been added to the last year's 253 centres. The number of films in the State Library has risen from 1643 to 1696. A sum of Rs. 25,000 has been placed at the disposal of the Inspector of Visual Education for giving grants to schools for the purchase of projectors.
Arrangements have been made for showing educational films at Bal Bhavan, a Children's centre in Bombay.
Arrangements were made for holding Audio-Visual aid exhibitions at Nasik, Dharwar and Ahmednagar. A small museum of AudioVisual aids has been set up. 183 teachers were trained in the three short term visual education courses held during the year. 40 films received from the U.S.I.S. were dubbed in Gujrati and Marathi.
The regional Social education committees have been supplied with kerosene filmstrip projectors for use in rural areas.
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A colour film and a series of new charts on social sciences have been prepared by the visual education office.
COORG The Education Department purchased a 16 mm sound projector for use in Social education. It owns 19 films and 53 shows have been arranged in the rural areas.
DELHI As a feature of the intensified scheme of Social education three fully equipped educational caravans are holding educational melas in the rural areas. Each caravan - is allotted to a group of 100 Villages. A large number of radio sets have been installed in the villages.
HIMACHAL PRADESH As a beginning, three film projectors have been provided to three educational institutions and all High schools have been given radio sets.
HYDERABAD The Education Department has one equipped van and the purchase of three more has been sanctioned by the Government.
MADHYA BHARAT Two cinema vans, equipped with 103 educational and informative films, tour the various districts of the State. The films are exhibited in connection with Social education work among the adults and under-privileged sections of the people. The Education Department organized educational fairs and exhibitions in various villages of the State.
MADHYA PRADESH The power of the broadcasting station has been increased to provide coverage to practically the whole State enabling the Education Department to increase the number of community listening centres organized by it.
25 fully equipped Social education vans arranged shows in a large number of villages. Cultural programmes were arranged by cultural squads" throughout the State as part of the Social education scheme.
MADRAS Special steps were taken to equip a large number of schools with projecting equipment. 95 schools were provided with 16 mm film projectors, 105 with 35 mm filmstrip projectors and 70 schools with radio sets,
Short training courses in Audio-Visual education were conducted at six centres and 116 teachers were trained in teaching methods and 200 teachers in the handling and maintenance of projectors at the central film library of the Education Department.
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21,000 film shows were given in the educational institutions with films and filmstrips hired at nominal rates from the State film library. Teachers were also guided in the selection of films and filmstrips for exhibition in their schools. About 51 films and 365 filmstrips were added to the stock of the film library.
In order to encourage schools to open their own museums, a training course for teachers in the 'Museum Technique' is conducted. Two batches were given training during the months of May and June, 1953. The course includes training in preservation and presentation of exhibits.
MANIPUR Nil report.
ORISSA Three fully equipped mobile units were supplied to three differ- ent circles of the State. These units are exhibiting films in the different educational institutions and Adult education centres.
PEPSU Nil report.
PUNJAB Several schools have been provided with film projectors and receiving sets. In training institutions training is given in the preparation of the non-projected visual aids. Two mobile cinema vans visited 95 social education centres and arranged film shows.
RAJASTHAN Three 16 mm projectors, eight filmstrip projectors and loud speakers were purchased. About 100 film shows in the urban and about 50 in the rural areas were arranged. Kathas, Bhajans and recitation were also arranged. One mobile cinema van was acquired temporarily for the benefit of the rural areas.
SAURASHTRA The purchase of a cinema van has been sanctioned together with the requisit staff.
TRAVANCORE-COCHIN The Government has sanctioned the purchase of necessary equipment to set up the first mobile audio-visual unit for Social education, The All-India Radio, Trivandrum has started broadcasting education programme for students every day from 15-30 to 16-00 hours. The programmes are designed to reinforce and supplement class instructions. 69 receiving sets have been installed in schools.
UTTAR PRADESH The film section of the education expansion department, opened in March 1952, has produced five documentaries, about one thousand feet in length each, one news-reel and one filmstrip. The distribution section organised 161 film shows.
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