APPENDIX A(e)- REPORT ON THE DEVELOPMENT OF AUDIO-VISUAL EDUCATION IN INDIA
The importance of audiovisual education in the general system of education was not realized till recently. Even till the first quarter of this century the magic lantern was the most popular form of visual education and it helped to make lesions interesting. But few institutions were fortunate enough to possess even magic lanterns. Gradually, however, the importance of the audiovisual education as a dynamic force in the integrated programme of education for schools and colleges and social education centres was recognized and it was only after the war that some of the bigger States introduced schemes of visual education. Emphasis is now being laid largely on visual methods in education, especially the film as the medium of education and instruction. This development has been the result of an urge to make use of the scientific techniques developed in the present age to improve and make more interesting the education being in imparted to children. It is also based on a realization of the fact that ordinary educations should be less academic and that more attention should be given to the training of the senses including the visual sense.
To popularize the use of visual and aural aids as important tools for classroom instructional purposes and correlate stimulate and correlate on an all India basis the audiovisual education in the country, the Government of India established a small audiovisual unit in the Ministry of Education in 1047 as part of the Post War Educational Development Plan. The Central Film Library attached to this section has at present a stock of over 800 (16 mm) films and 1200 (35mm) filmstrips and is functioning as a lending library of films and filmstrips to educational institutions and social welfare organisations throughout the country. The present membership of this Library is 350 and the average circulation of films is about 500 per month. The films are chosen by a Preview Committee which keeps in mind the specific needs of educational institutions and other organisations. 16mm prints of all educational
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and informative films produced by the Films Division of the Central Ministry of Information and Broadcasting are also available in this Library. The Library is now being expanded so as to include other visual aids, such as posters, charts, maps) models, graphs, etc.
As already pointed out some schemes of audiovisual education are in operation in most of the bigger States. In many States audio- visual education forms a part of the social (adult) education programmers. In some States mobile units equipped with audio-visual material are being used to impart education to rural adults as well as to school children. Some of the States are maintaining film libraries for circulation of films and filmstrips to educational institutions within their respective areas. The educational institutions are also being encouraged by State governments to have their own audio-visual equipment, to build up their own libraries of films and filmstrips, and to draw upon the film libraries setup by the education departments of the States and the Central Ministry of Education.
In Bihar, the Government has provided a number of radio sets to education institutions and Social educational centres. Formation of film clubs by students is encouraged all over the State. Also 'Mandalies' (consisting of artists and musicians) tour the villages giving performances of drama, dance, music folk songs, etc. which have educational and recreational value.
Significant progress in the advancement of visual education has been made in the State of Bombay, which has built up a film library of about 1600 films which are circulated to about 100 projecting centres and cater for the educational needs of the whole State. Attempts at economic production of 16 mm silent films (dubbing them later with Hindi commentary) and 35 mm. filmstrips and film slides have also been Inside by the State Government. Exhibitions of audio-visual aids have boon organised to quicken the interest and add to the knowledge of teachers, students and the general public.
In connection with the intensified Social Education programme in the State of Delhi, a mobile education exhibition, popularly known as Educational Caravan", goes round by turn to every village for a 3-day stay there. Each Caravan consists of four vans fitted with various audio-Visual aids and equipment like posters, gramophones, projectors, dramatic stage, musical instruments, library, merry-go-rounds, etc. Besides, most villages and Urban schools have been fitted with a radio set.
For their social education work the Government of Madhya Pradesh have provided a well equipped mobile unit for each of the 22 districts in the State and 3 mobile units are kept at the head quarters for meeting emergency needs. They have also installed more than 500 radio sets and established 18 battery charging stations for them.
The Government of Madras introduced (in 1947) a levy of " Visual education fees" from the students of secondary schools and colleges for the purpose of arranging exhibitions of approved films by licensed exhibitors. But lately the State Government has taken upon itself the entire responsibility for imparting visual education. At present, 110 educational institutions in the State possess projectors, and the film library of the State Education Department has acquired a stock of about 800 film and 150 filmstrips.
In Uttar Pradesh the preparation of maps, charts, models, etc. by the pupil teachers is compulsory in each of the Teachers Training and Normal schools. The Education and information Departments of the State have film libraries. Mobile vans fitted with radio, gramophone, projectors etc. are utilized in the State social educational programme.
Some work in the field of audio-visual education is also being done in the states of Assam, Hyderabad, Mysore, Orissa, Punjab, Rajasthan, Saurashtra and Travancore-Cochin. Much work, however, still remains to be done in these and other states.
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It may be pointed out that most of the films available in the Central films Library or in the departmental libraries of the States Governments are foreign films with English commentaries. But such films do not adequately meet our requirements. They are useful neither for small children in primary schools, nor for the illiterate adults for whom our social education Programme has been designed. The Central Ministry of Education have, for some time past, been encouraging Indian producers in the production of educational films and filmstrips, but the success in this field has so far been very limited. The commercial world is hesitant to take up the production, firstly, because they are not sure of the sale of sufficient number of prints of each film to cover production costs so as to ensure profits, secondly, there is lack of technical skill to produce educational films of a high standard. This involves a 'vicious circle". Producers do not make educational films until more schools possess projectors ; and schools do not instal projectors until necessary funds and suitable Indian films are available.
To study the problems and formulate plans for the development of audio-visual education the Government of India invited Prof. T. L. Green an expert on audio-visual education sponsored by the UNESCO, to pay an exploratory visit to this country. On the occasion of his visit in October last, an All-India Conference on Audio-Visual Education was organized by the Central Ministry of Education, in which the state governments and some other representatives participated. The various problems on audio-visual education including the availability, preparation and production of audiovisual aids apparatus and equipment by educational institutions and Commercial firms, the distribution of these materials, the training of teachers and technical staff, and the establishment of a National Committee for Audio-Visual aids in education were discussed. The Conference drew up the following action points' for implementation.
1. Establishment of a Board of Visual Education which should have representation of educationists, teachers, technicians and others interests in this field, to consider general policy and programme.
2. Appointment of a whole-time Officer in each state education department for developing audiovisual education.
3. Organization of exhibitions in different centres to popularize the use of and clarify ideas about, visual education.
4. Training of teachers in visual education through training colleges and refresher courses, special street being placed on how to use aids.
5. Establishment of cooperation between teachers, educationists and commercial concerns for the, production of visual aids.
6. Use of training colleges and schools-both staff and students-for the production of suitable audio-visual aids.
7. Need for intelligent guidance in order to improve the standard, quality and variety of production.
8. Setting up in each state some type of educational museum where children's books, journals and all types of visual aids 'national and foreign may be available for consultation and study by all concerned.
9. Exploration of the methods of producing projecting instruments as well as visual aids economically and encouragement of inter-state co-operation for the purpose.
10. Proper coordination and use of educational broadcasting.
11. Exemption from duty of audio-visual aids imported for educational institutions.
The recommendations made by the conference have been brought to the notice of the State Governments for their consideration and necessary action. In so far as the Central Government is concerned, the following schemes are in action or under consideration:
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(i) The question 4 establishing a unit for the cheap production of filmstrips and duplication of dupe negatives in the films Division of the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting at Bombay at an estimated cost of about Rs. 1 lakh is under consideration. It is estimated that each year this unit would be able to produce 300 filmstrips and turn out a large number of copies so that the price of a filmstrips would be about Rs. 2/- or even lower depending on the number of prints made. The view of the State Governments, who have been addressed in the matter, are awaited.
(ii) For the last two years a scheme has been in operation under which the Films Division of the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting has undertaken to produce instructional documentary films under the Ministry's guidance. But actual production so far has been very slow.
(iii) The private producers of films are being encouraged to produce educational films on topics suggested by the Ministry. It is proposed to setup panels consisting of teachers and other educationists who could advise about the topics for charts, posters, etc. as well as films and filmstrips and, if necessary, prepare detailed suggestions and scripts for the purpose.
(iv) Messrs Ratan Batra Studios of Bombay have agreed to produce at their cost and under the advice of the Ministry a series of educational charts, posters, etc. and so far 16 of them have actually been corrected and approved for final printing.
(v) It has been decided to take up next year a pilot project for the training personnel and the production of cheap audio visual aids and equipment based on the recommendations of the UNESCO consultant, Prof. T.L. Green, and with the cooperation of the UNESCO. This project with its three fold programmes of training, evaluation and production which is estimated to cost about Rs. 2 lakhs is being in- tegrated with the plans for Social and Basic education as visualised by the Planning Commission.