APPENDIX V-- REPORT OF THE COMMITTEE ON THE IMPLEMENTATION OF THE RECOMMENDATIONS OF THE UNIVERSITY EDUCATION COMMISSION
The Central Advisory Board of Education at its meeting held on the 10th November, 1953, authorised the Chairman to appoint a Com- mittee to survey the progress so far made in the implementation of the recommendations of the Indian University Education Commission and to suggest further steps which should be taken by the Governments and universities in this behalf. The Chairman accordingly constituted a Committee consisting of the following:
1. Shri C. P. Ramaswami Aiyer,
2. Dr. Lakshmanaswami Mudaliar,
3. Dr. Zakir Husain,
4. Dr. G. S. Mahajani, and
5. Shri Humayun Kabir.
The Committee held its first meeting at Mysore on the 21st December, 1953 when, in addition to the members, Professor N. K. Sidhanta, Member, U.P.S.C. and R. Ramaswamy Mudaliar, Vice-Chancellor of the Travancore University also attended by special invitation. Certain tentative conclusions were framed and circulated to members. The next meeting of the Committee was held on the 14th January, 1954, at New Delhi when the preliminary conclusions, were further considered and final recommendations drawn up.
The Committee was of the view that not much progress has so far been made in the implementation of the recommendations of the Indian University Education Commission. The major reason for this is no doubt lack of finance, but even measures which do not depend mainly on finance have not been adequately considered. The Committee has, therefore, resolved to make its recommendations in two groups, the first of which does not have much financial implication, while the second is mainly financial in nature. The Committee however wished to make it clear that the recommendations are complementary and the desired result cannot be achieved if only one set of recommendations is implemented.
The Committee made a rapid survey of the recommendations of the University Education Commission and agreed that among the non- financial measures, the most important were those regarding reforms in the constitution of university senates, syndicates, academic councils and the appointment of the Vice-Chancellors. The Committee held unanimously that reform in the constitution of the controlling bodies of the universities in order to free them from intrigues and political influence is essential for any improvement in University education. The University Education Commission has recommended
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that two-thirds of the members of the Senate or Court should be teachers and one-third may be outsiders. All Principals of affiliated Dr constituent colleges should be ex-officio members of the Senate. The Committee further held that, if possible, one senior teacher from each college may also be given a seat in the Senate or University Court. Elections should however be avoided as far as possible in the Constitution of University bodies. The teachers may be appointed to the Senate by seniority and rotation, taking care to ensure that the colleges and subjects are so arranged that no faculty has unduly large or small representation. The Committee held that immediate I steps should be taken to amend University Acts in order to give ,effect to these recommendations.
The Committee was also of the view that the University Education Commission's recommendation regarding the constitution of the Syndicate or Executive Council should be implemented forthwith. The size of the Syndicate or Executive Council may however be reduced. The Chancellor's nominee on the body need not be more than one. The High Court and the Public Service Commissions are not likely to associate themselves with University Syndicates. In view of this the maximum size of a Syndicate need not exceed 17. The Committee held that in the constitution of the Syndicate or Executive Council also, election should be avoided as far as possible and persons appointed by rotation.
With regard to the appointment of the Vice-Chancellor, the Com- mittee was of the view that the University Education Commission's recommendation should be accepted in the form in which it has been in force at the Delhi University. Under this system, the Syndicate or Executive Council of the University nominates two distinguished educationists not directly connected with the University and the Visitor nominates one such person. These three constitute a Selection Committee which submits to the Visitor a panel of not more than three names, out of which one is appointed the Vice-Chancellor. The Committee was of the view that if this method of appointment of the Vice-Chancellor is accepted by all universities, there need be no objection to the re-election of the same person as the Vice-Chancellor for a second or even a third term. Conditions and terms of service of Vice-Chancellors should be more or less uniform throughout the country.
The Committee held that the recommendations of the University Education Commission regarding the constitution of the Academic Council should also be adopted as early as possible. The method of election should be avoided and appointment may be according to seniority and by rotation.
The relevant University Acts should also be amended to make the President of India the Visitor of all Universities. The question as to whether the Heads of the States should be the Chancellor of State Universities was left to the States to determine, but Dr. C. P. Ramaswami Aiyer was of the view that if the present Constitution did not permit the Head of the State to act except on the advice of the Ministry, it would be desirable to appoint as Chancellors, persons other than Heads of States.
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The Commmittee then considered the question of improvement of the academic atmosphere in universities and agreed unanimously that improvement in the status and salary of teachers was an essential condition thereof. As this would have large-scale financial implications, the Committee decided to consider at this stage one other measure which does not have much financial implication. This is a re-arrangement of the duration of courses, At present many Universities require four years of post-school education before the first degree but this is arranged in the form of an Intermediate course lasting for two years and a B.A. course for another two years. The Committee held that this arrangement was not satisfactory for various reasons. Students were not able to adjust themselves imme- diately to the freer atmosphere of a University, More important, the inadequacy of schools meant ill-prepared students who were not able to follow the college courses. The fact that English is the medium in most universities while the schools teach through an Indian language adds to the difficulty of the students. Inability to follow lectures is one of the main causes of indiscipline. The Committee held that many of these evils could be checked if the first year in College, which may be a pre-University course, helps to improve the general education of the students and also gives them an intensive training in the English language. The Committee therefore recommends that the present arrangement of two years Intermediate and two years B.A. should immediately be replaced by one year pre-University and a three- year degree course. Students who have completed a Higher Secondary Course may however be allowed to proceed straight to the degree course. The question as to whether such students desiring to read Engineering or Medicine would need to attend a pre-Engineering or a pre-Medical course should be decided in consultation with the members of the Engineering and the Medical faculties.
The Committee agreed with the Secondary Education Commission that while an improvement of the Secondary school by adding a further year was necessary, there were practical difficulties in carrying out such a reform immediately. As an interim measure the best arrangement would be to take the first year in colleges as a pre-university course.
The Committee then took up consideration of the recommendations that have financial implications. It is obvious that there can be no improvement in the quality of education unless there is an improvement in the teacher-pupil ratio. The Committee was of the view that in the pre-University classes, there should not be more than 60 pupils in any one class. while for the degree classes, the number should be limited to 100. The Committee also held that the strength of a college should not exceed 800 or at the utmost 1,000.
The Committee also considered the recommendation of the Uni- versity Education Commission in respect of teaching and was of the definite view that there should be an immediate change in the ratio of lectures to tutorial classes. The Commission has recommended that the maximum load for teachers should be 15 hours a week of combined teaching, and tutorial work. The Committee held that the right proportion would be two hours of tutorial work for every hour of lecture. As this is likely to demand a great increase in the number of teachers, an immediate beginning may be made by so
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arranging the routine that the number of tutorial classes is equal to the number of lecture hours. The Commission has recommended that students should report to tutors in groups not exceeding six In number. The Committee while it agreed with the Commission, held that in View of the increase in expenses involved, a beginning may be made with ten students in a group. The Committee was also of the view that immediate improvement in the physical amenities in colleges is essential if the general atmosphere is to be improved. The Committee was of the view that the Government should give interest-free loans to Universities for the construction of hostels. These hostels should normally be for not more than a hundred students and should be so distributed as to make for effective academic control over them. The Committee recommended that the Government might accept a long-term programme of giving an interest-free loan of rupees two lakhs a year to each university for the next five years.
The Committee held that while the provision of hostels for students would improve the academic atmosphere and make for better discipline, it was also necessary to ensure the presence of teachers on or near the campus if fully satisfactory results are to be achieved. The Committee accordingly recommended that the Government may accept a long-term policy of giving loans on a low rate of interest to universities for the construction of quarters for essential staff. A provision of rupees one lakh a year for each university for the next five years was recommended.
The Committee held that along with the provision of residential accommodation to students. arrangements must also be made for day- scholars. The provision of day hostels by the addition of one or two rooms along with a cafeteria where students could rest, relax, have cheap and wholesome meals and study was an essential step for improving the morale of the students.
The Committee held that one of the reasons for the poor quality of the students is their inability to buy standard textbooks which compels them to resort to cheap cram books. The replacement of formal lectures by tutorials would contribute towards checking this evil but this cannot be fully done unless standard books are, made available to students. The Committee accordingly recommended that each university, and as far as possible each college, should have a service library, where duplicate sets of standard textbooks could be kept for the use of students. Normally, these books, should not be issued out but students ought to be given the facility of studying them before and after college hours.
The recommendation to improve the teacher-pupil ratio is bound to limit the number of students in the universities. Such a measure would be difficult to enforce at any time. The recent increase in budget provision at the Secondary level would make such restriction still harder to enforce unless some steps are taken to ensure that poor but meritorious students are not denied the opportunity of Higher education. The Committee accordingly recommended that each university should have at least 100 scholarships a year for poor but meritorious students. These scholarships should be of
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the value of about Rs. 100 a month per pupil, so as to cover all the expenses of the pupils, including tuition, board and lodging and purchase of books.
All the measures suggested above would ultimately depend for their success upon an improvement in the quality of teachers. This cannot be done unless the teacher's status is Greater social prestige should be attached to the teaching profession, but this by itself would not be enough. Something must be done immediately to improve the scales of salary of teachers. While the Committee agreed fully with the scales proposed by Mr. Humayun Kabir in his " Note on Discipline", it was felt that it may be difficult to give effect to these scales immediately. The committee therefore recommended that at least the scales recommended by the University Education Commission should be introduced forthwith. The Commission had recommended a scale of Rs. 300-600 for university lecturers and the Committee held that this was absolutely the minimum for attracting suitable personnel. The Commission had recommended two separate grades, viz, Rs. 200400 and Rs. 200-500 for colleges without or with postgraduate classes. The Committee held that the scales recommended for colleges which have post-graduate classes should also be extended to colleges which have no post-graduate classes. The Committee Was further of the view that the minimum for a college teacher should be raised to Rs. 250 as any figure lower than this is not likely to attract persons of the necessary calibre to the teaching profession. Dr. A. L. Mudaliar held that Professors who are the Heads of Departments in a Degree College should have a scale of Rs. 400-800 for Colleges with only degree classes and of Rs. 500-1000 for those with Honours and M.A. classes.
The Committee concluded by reiterating its conviction that if these recommendations of the University Education Commission regarding (a) the re-constitution of University syndicates, senates and academic councils and the appointment of Vice-Chancellor; (b) the improvement in salary of teachers; (c) the provision of students hostels and teachers' quarters; (d) the replacement of formal lectures by tutorials and (e) the provision of merit scholarships be accepted, a substantial improvement in University education could be effected immediately and tangible results expected in the course of a decade.
(Sd.) HUMAYUN KABIR,
Convenor
(Sd.) C. P. RAMASWAMI AIYER,
(Sd.) A. L. MUDALIAR,
(Sd.) ZAKIR HUSAIN,
(Sd.) G. S. MAHAJANI.
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