APPENDIX C-
VIEWS OF THE PROVINCIAL GOVTS. ON
 ITEM X OF THE AGENDA FOR THE LAST
 MEETING REGARDING THE EVOLVING
 OF A UNIFORM PROCEDURE FOR
 RECORDING CORRECT AGE
 

The Central Advisory Board of Education at their last meeting held at Allahabad in January, 1949, considered a memorandum from the Chief Commissioner, Ajmer, regarding the necessity of taking appropriate steps for evolving a uniform procedure to record correct age. The Board resolved that an enquiry be first made regarding the procedure at present followed in the various Provinces for recording the age of school children. This matter was then referred to the Provincial Governments, Chief Commissioners Provinces and States Governments. The replies indicate that there is no special method to record the age of children excepting that the age given by the parent or guardian of the child at the time of his first admission to school is entered in the school register.

A statement of the replies is enclosed for the Board's consideration.

Statement showing the procedure followed in Provinces, etc., regarding the recording of ages of school children

Orissa.-The present procedure followed in the Province for recording the age of school children is that at the time of first admission to a school, the father or the guardian of the pupil declares in writing the age of the pupil in years, months and days calculated according to the English method and the age thus declared is recorded in the Admission Register.

United Provinces.-In all cases of first admission to a recognised institution the head of the institution concerned scrutinises the date of birth of the scholar entered in the application form for admission and satisfies himself that the date of birth is reasonable. If he has any reason to doubt the correctness of the age, he may ask the parent or guardian to produce necessary evidence, which may either be an attested copy of a Municipal Birth Certificate or an age certificate from the Civil Surgeon.

East Punjab.-The Divisional Inspectors and Inspectors of School in the East Punjab have been asked to issue instructions to the Heads of all recognised schools in urban areas under their jurisdiction to the effect that at the time of first admission of a child to a school they should invariably demand a certified copy of the date of birth as recorded in the Municipal Birth Register. These orders will have effect from April, 1950. The refugee children from West Punjab have been exempted from producing such certificates for the first three years. At present the parents or

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guardians of refugee children are, of course, required to furnish the

usual declaration regarding the date of birth already given in the admission application form prescribed in Appendix XIX of the Punjab Education Code (Annexure I).

Ajmer.-Dates of birth of candidates as given by their parents at the time of their first admission are accepted as correct and kept on record.

Bhopal.-At present the date of birth as entered by the parent or guardian in the application form is accepted as correct and the same is entered in the General Register.

Coorg.-The date of birth of a child is recorded either by the parent or by the nearest relative in the Municipality or Nad office.

Kutch.-Ages are recorded at present in birth registers.

United State of Travancore and Cochin.-Uniformity of method in recording the ages of school children is desirable. The accuracy of results cannot be vouched for as long as the different communities base their age records on different customary or religious practices, some of which have no more weight than of mere oral testimony whose value is dubious for ensuring infallible precision.

Andaman and Nicobar.-The present procedure for recording the age of school children is that at the time of admission the guardian of the child is asked to fill up an admission form and also indicate the date of birth of the child therein. This entry is admitted as correct.

West Bengal.-At the pupil's first admission to a school the parent or guardian makes a declaration which is regarded as final. The statement of record of age originally made in the admission register is accepted for purposes of Public Services. The present practice of production of horoscope or of making a declaration is, however, not reliable. It is suggested that the recording of age at the time of new admission to schools should depend on the production of Birth Certificate.

Bihar.-When a child is admitted for the first time to a primary or any other school, the father or guardian declares, if the child has no horoscope, the age of the child in years, months and days, calculated according to English method. If the age thus declared is not in Accordance with the child's physical appearance, the teacher should record it, but shall draw the attention of the Sub-Inspector of schools who, if he agrees with the teacher, should add to the age- entry " appears to be X years old ".

Applications for revision of original age should be filed within 6 Months of the date of original entry and, if necessary, should be supported by a Medical Certificate signed by a Civil. Surgeon.

Mysore.-The dale of birth as entered in the admission register when pupils join the school for the first time is the basis for records of pupils, ages. The age as entered by the parent in the

application for admission is accepted.

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ANNEXURE I

CORRIGENDUM No. 223. (PUNJAB EDUCATION CODE)

Substitute the following for page 2 of the existing form in Appendix

XIX

        
                                                    

 
        
        
        Name of  Date of   Fath-  Agricu-    Reli- Caste,   Fath-   Month-   Residence   Remarks.
        student  birth by  er's   lturist,   gion  Sub- ca- er's o- ly in-
                 the Chri- name   non-Agri-         ste or  ccupat- come
                 stian era        culturist         tribe   ion     of the 
                 (in words        or Zamindar                       father  
                 as well as                                         or guari-
                 in figures)                                        dian
                                                    

                                                    

Certified that the date of birth given above, is to the best of my belief, correct and that it accords with that given in the horoscope and the Municipal and Chowkidar's birth register.

Signature,---

parent or guardian.

Certified also that the contents of the above certificate were read by or were read out and explained to the parent/guardian who accompanied the child who was literate/illiterate.

Note.-No change of the date of birth given in the above statement can be made subsequently.

2. Should the declaration regarding income be proved to be false the student concerned will. be liable to expulsion for two years. A fresh declaration shall be submitted annually in April in respect of each student in the secondary department of a Government, board or

aided Anglo-Vernacular schools.

2. "A pupil's lawful and de facto guardian may sign this document only when the father is dead".

Headmaster.

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