APPENDIX K- ACUTE SHORTAGE OF TEXTBOOKS AND OTHER SUITABLE LITERATURE FOR BASIC AND SOCIAL EDUCATION AND SETTING UP OF A SMALL COMMITTEE OF EXPERTS IN BASIC AND SOCIAL EDUCATION
For some time past the Government of India have been concerned with the acute shortage of text-books and other suitable literature for Basic and Social Education. In addition to textbooks, we require Juvenile literature, for the use of teachers and organisers of Basic Schools, for workers and teachers in the field of Social Education, and for the use of the adult new literates. There is a great paucity of literature in all these fields and every effort by the State Governments to supply such literature on their own initiative would be a move in right direction. It is, however, for consideration whether greater co-operation between the Centre and the State Governments may not lead to greater and more satisfactory results for the same quantum of effort.
2. This question was referred to the State Governments by the Government of India. The State Governments are in general agreement with the views of the Government of India. A summary of the replies (Annexure) received from the States is enclosed. The following steps are suggested for the consideration of the Board-
(i) In order to obtain better pamphlets, and more economically, the present sources distributed all over the country may be pooled. Such pamphlets may be written by experts in different States and then produced in English or Hindi at the Centre for distribution. The pamphlets in a regional language must reflect the local atmosphere and as such must be the concern of the State. The Centre may, however, help by undertaking to prepare a kind of blueprint on which regional pamphlets can be based.
(ii) The series of pamphlets under the scheme should be planned by the Ministry of Education in consultation with the Departments, of Education in the States. Every State that wants a pamphlet on a particular subject should ask the Ministry of Education to prepare a suitable book with the help of the best available experts in the country and make it readily available to that State and the rest of the country.
(iii) Where a State Government desires to translate the pamphlet in the regional language, it would be the responsibility of the State Government concerned.
(iv) To give a concrete shape to this scheme, it is proposed to set up a small committee of experts in Basic and Social Education whose main function would be to advise Government on general policy and on the preparation of such publications,
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ANNEXURE
Summary of replies received form the States regarding proposals for the preparation and distribution of
text-books and literature for the use of teachers and organizers of Basic Schools and Social Education.
Name of State Whether Brief out- Any alter- Brief outlines of any suggestions Remarks
Governments in gen- lines of native pl- in support of the MInistry of
eral agr- reasons for ans sugges- of Education plans
eement dissagr- ted by dis-
of not eement agreeing
(Yes of No) States
1 2 3 4 5 6
Assam Yes -- -- State Government is in general agre- --
ment with the proposal and has emph-
asised the necessity of regional ex-
perts being placed in the proposed
Committee by Co-operation whenever
necessary to safe-guard regional in-
terests. Experts for the scheme of
text-books should be selected in
consultation with the States.
Bihar Yes -- -- The Government of Bihar consider that
the proposal to pool and coordinate
the available technical knowledge and
skill for the preparation of text-
books etc. for the Basic and Social
Education under the Ministry of
Education deserves a trial.
The State Government has suggested
that the Central Ministry may also
collect information about authors
from the different States and assign
the work of writing books to them.
Bombay Yes -- -- State Government agrees with the The Government of
Centre's suggestion to set up a Bombay feel that Ce-
small Committee of experts in Basic ntre should act as a
and Social Education to advise the Bureau of Co-ordina-
Ministry of Education on the gene- tion and Information
ral policy regarding these public- , but the State Gov-
ations. Centre should supply the ernment should not
various State Governments for their be circumscribed in
information books and literature its activity.
prepared by this Committee.
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Centre should act as
a clearing house of
information and assi-
st in the production
of suitable literatu-
re.
State Government, ho-
wever, feel that the
methods suggested by
the Centre will resu-
lt in over-centraliz-
ation and the prepar-
ation of literature
to suit local needs
will be delayed. Also
the translations from
a fixed text may not
always be suitable
and may involve as
much labour as the
many languages preva-
lent in Bombay State,
the literature prepa-
red for the purpose
in question may not
fit in with the local
background.
Hyderabad Yes -- -- State has suggested that it would be
economical if the literature suitable
for use in South India is brought out
in simple English to enable its tran-
slation in regional languages.
Madhya Bharat Yes -- -- The State Govt. welcomes the suggest-
ions and would like to give the syst-
em a trial in the first instance. Th-
at Govt. hopes that local peculiarities
will be borne in mind by the Government
of India while producing literature in
connection with the above system.
Madhya Pradesh Yes -- -- ---- The State Govt. feel
that in this vast co-
untry conditions of
life, as regards loc-
al customs, dialects
etc. and regional ge-
ography and history
are so varied that
production of litera-
ture for Basic and
Social Education for
the country as a who-
le will tend to be
ineffectual. The Sta-
te Government, there-
fore, feel that sub-
ject to co-ordination
in a general way, the
State should be free
to produce literature
for Basic and Social
Education to suit
their local requirem-
ents.
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Summary of replies received from the State regarding the proposal for the preparation and distribution of
text-books and literature for the use of teachers and organizers of Basic Schools and Social Education-contd.
1 2 3 5 6 7
Madras Yes -- -- Madras Govt. is in general agreement with the
proposal and have suggested that arrangement
may kindly be made by the Government of India
for the preparation of Guide Books by Compet-
ent experts on the following topics:-
1. The story of the evolution of the School
concept.
2. Principles of Basic Education.
3. Guide books on the following productive
and cultural activities with detailed
references to correlated teaching:-
1. Sanitation.
2. Spinning, Weaving, Printing and Dyeing.
3. Wood work.
4. Gardening.
5. Kitchen work.
6. Art and Music.
7. Festivals.
8. Physical Education.
Mysore Yes -- -- The Government of Mysore is in complete agre-
ement with the proposal in view of the neces-
sity for a Central Co-ordinating Committee
for building up Literature on Basic Education
on a nation basis.
Orissa Yes -- - Government of Orissa have suggested the follo-
wing two names for inclusion in the committee
of experts in Basic & Social Education :-
1. Shri S.C. Mahapatra, (Adult Education Officer)
2. Shri S. Nath (Organizer of Basic Education)
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PEPSU Yes -- -- The State Government is in complete agreement
with the Centre's proposal. Pepsu State has
furnished the names of certain authors of Juv-
enile literature who would be available if and
when required by the Centre. The State Governm-
ent would be able to furnish more names who
could undertake translation of literature into
Regional Language.
Punjab (I) Yes -- -- Punjab is in full accord with the proposal.
Requests that the Government of Punjab should
be represented on the committee proposed to
beset up in this connection.
Rajasthan Yes -- -- Government of Rajasthan agree to teh proposal.
Saurashtra Yes -- -- The State Government is in complete agreement
with the proposal and feels that it will be
necessary for their State to translate all
important litrature in Gujarati and so it
cannot make any financial commitment for the
working of the scheme.
Travancore-
Cochin Yes -- -- The Government of Travancore-Cochin is in
agreement with the proposals of the Central
Government. The State has requested that any
literature prepared by the experts may be
made available for use of that State.
170