APPENDIX H- BIHAR GOVERNMENT'S SCHEME OF INTRODUCING COMPULSORY PRIMARY EDUCATION
The Central Advisory Board of Education have already subscribed to the view in their report of 1944 that the minimum provision which could be accepted as constituting a national system postulates that all children must receive enough education to prepare them to earn a living as well as to fulfil themselves as individuals and discharge their duties as citizens They have also added that a national system can hardly be other than universal. Secondly, it must also be compulsory, if the grave wastage which exists to-day under a voluntary system is not to be perpetuated and even aggravated. An thirdly, if education is to be universal and compulsory, equity requires that it should be free and commonsense demands that it should last long enough to secure its fundamental objective. It is advocated from certain quarters, however, on economic grounds, to apply
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compulsion only up to the Junior Basic stage during the first 10 years of the plan of Universal Basic Education. Apart from the fact that the undesirable effect of this piecemeal procedure has been realised now in England and in other countries as well, so far as the Basic Education system through productive activity related to life and living is concerned, a procedure like this may hardly have any justification on economic grounds. It is only natural that if craft is practised as one of the media of instruction in a school, the pupils of the higher age groups will be capable of earning more than those of the lower age groups. This is borne out by actual experience, as will be evident from a perusal of the report of the Secretary, Bihar Basic Education Board on the economic aspects of Basic Education, for the year ending the 31st March, 1949:-
"With Rs. 40,052 deposited into the treasury this year, the deposits of Rs. 11,194 of the last year has been exceeded by Rs. 28,858. We have, however, to remember that the objective is that, should the State and the Community provide the scholars with the necessary land, appliances, equipments and the working capital, the school community of teachers and the taught should make themselves self-supporting through their co-operative craft enterprise. We are still far from this ideal, both in the matter of the facilities for production that have been provided and in the efficiency that the schools have shown. But whatever has been achieved during the year is encouraging as will be evident from the discussions that follow.
"Out of the 100 Basic Schools in Bihar on the 31st March, 1949,
the majority were at different stages of development, each having five or less than five bottom grades and forty five of them being less than two months old. there were only 18 schools of 8 grades each. These may be regarded as full-fledged only from the point of view of the number of grades. They functioned only as free institutions and not as institutions in which the full quota of attendance at the rate of 30 pupils per teacher had been secured through the operation of a system of compulsory attendance of pupils of the age-group 6 to 14. These had a total enrolment of 2,927 pupils and had on their staff 140 teachers. Had compulsory attendance been secured, these should have had 4,500 students and 162 teachers evenly distributed over all the grades from bottom to top. As they were, they cost for their maintenance, during the year under report Rs. 1,36,916. The gross cost thus works out at Rs. 7,606 per school and Rs. 46/12/- per pupil. Deducting from Rs. 1,36,916/- only Rs. 14,887/- being the amount deposited into treasury, the net cost was Rs. 1,22,029/- which works at Rs. 6,779/- per school and Rs. 41/11/- per pupil per year. Deducting, however, the whole income of Rs. 29,038 from craft proceeds, the cost per school and per pupil comes down to Rs. 5,994/- and Rs. 36/13/- respectively. These figures, however, do not accurately reflect the standards reached by the schools or the possibilities of this system of education of relieving the State of a very substantial portion of the cost of the minimum of education which is its duty to provide for all the children of the nation to make them harmoniously developed individuals and citizens.
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"The table below shows the income and earning per pupil during 1948-49 on the average attendance during the year as a whole maintained in these schools:-
(N.B.-Income is the total proceeds from craft work including the cost on raw materials and craft contingencies. Earning is the value of the labour of pupils and teachers deducting the cost of raw materials and contingencies).
Expected according Average in the Average highest of Remarks on Col.
to syllabus Brindaban Basic any one school.
Schools. 6 & 7
Grade Income Earning Income Earning Income Earning
1 2 3 5 4 6 7 8
Rs. A. P. Rs. A. P. Rs. A. P. Rs. A. P. Rs. A. P. Rs. A. P.
I .. .. 2 4 0 1 2 0 1 1 0 0 9 9 3 9 0 2 8 3 Shambhua-
pur.
II .. .. 5 12 0 2 14 0 3 6 0 1 13 0 5 12 2 3 14 8
III.. .. 11 10 0 5 13 0 6 0 3 3 4 3 8 6 0 6 1 0
IV .. .. 14 0 0 7 0 0 9 9 6 5 2 11 16 1 7 13 7 9 Mahuawa.
V .. .. 30 6 0 15 3 0 13 15 0 0 9 1 26 0 0 17 13 9 Raidhurwa.
VI (a)- 112 8 0 46 4 0 63 5 10 24 5 10 63 5 10 24 5 10 Chowbetola.
Agri.
(b) Wea- 56 4 0 28 2 0 24 9 0 14 8 0 52 3 4 25 9 4 Sirisia-Ad-
ving da.
(c)Wood- 84 6 0 42 3 0 58 0 2 33 8 10 68 3 8 54 0 0 Mathia.
Work
VII (a) -128 8 0 69 4 0 99 12 3 69 0 3 123 1 4 79 6 0 Laghunaha.
Agri.
(b) Wea- 69 4 0 34 10 0 42 9 0 21 9 0 86 14 7 47 2 8 Shikhdhurba.
ving
(c) Wood 103 14 0 51 15 0 77 0 8 48 13 0 121 14 0 96 7 0 Mathia.
Work.
VIII (a)-173 8 0 86 4 0 114 7 5 74 2 9 117 8 7 75 12 4 Laghunaha.
Agri.
(b) Wea- 86 4 0 43 2 0 69 8 0 32 1 0 114 11 0 56 9 3 Jokaha.
ving
(c) Wood 129 2 0 64 9 0 114 14 11 76 15 2 233 3 0 120 3 3 Mathia.
Work
"The average attendance in the full-fledged 18 Basic Schools during the year 1948-49 in the grades I to VIII was 30, 14, 9, 8, 7, 8, 7 & 7 respectively., Had the average in each grade been as desired and thus for the school as a whole 250 (150 in 5 junior grades and 100 in 3 top grades as planned), the income calculated on the basis of the result of income actually earned by pupils and teachers on an average in one Basic School, would have been Rs. 6,825/-* a year and the expenditure on each Rs. 10,200/* a year and the schools would have been self-sufficient to the extent of 67 per cent. This is, however, on the basis of the average as achieved by all the 18 full-fledged Basic Schools taken together as given in column 4. But let us look at the highest average achieved in a grade of any one of the individual
schools as given in column 6. What has been attained by a grade collectively in any one of the schools is capable of attainment by all, with better organization, equipments, facilities, supervision and coordinated effort. And so on the basis of the highest actual average per pupil in a grade reached by any one school in 1948-49, the income of a full-fledged 8 grade Basic School with a total attendance of 250 and a staff of 9 teachers. would have been Rs. 10,254/-*, Rs. 11,927/- * and Rs. 15,901/-* per annum for.a Basic School with weaving, agriculture, and wood and- metal work
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respectively as basic crafts in the top three grades VI, VII and VIII respectively with one or two subsidiary crafts.
"The results of some of the most successful schools are given below:-
Average attendance
Serial
No. Name of School I II III IV V VI VII VIII
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10
1 Brindaban .. .. 45 24 12 13 18 20 19 16
2 Chowbetola .. .. 20 10 10 6 6 11 9 9
3 Mathia .. .. 31 6 8 5 7 8 5 6
4 Shambhuapur .. .. 16 16 11 5 4 .. .. ..
(Junior) (b)
Average income per pupil actually attending
se- Name of school I II III IV V VI VII VIII
rial
No. 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18
Rs. A. P. Rs. A. P. Rs. A. P. Rs. A. P. RS. A. P. RS. A. P. Rs. A. P. Rs. A. P.
1 Brindaban .. 1 4 4 5 0 4 13 2 4 21 2 9 29 2 0 53 15 0 65 3 8 111 13 7
2 Chowbetola.. 0 7 11 2 3 5 3 7 0 3 13 8 4 8 0 63 6 0 34 4 0 110 11 0
3 Mathia .. 0 9 5 2 15 2 4 14 4 7 3 10 11 10 6 18 2 8 122 0 0 233 3 0
4 Shambhuapur.. 3 8 8 5 12 1 6 1 4 17 2 5 21 15 6 .. .. ..
(Junior) (b)
Se Estimated Percentage of col.
rial income with 22 to the ultimate
No. Name of school Expenditure income Percentage of standard average standard cost of
col. 20 to 19. attendance (a). one school. (c).
19 20 21 22 23
Rs. A. P. Rs. A. P.
1. Brindban .. 12,196 11 3 5,078 1 9 41.63 9,800 96%
2. Chowbetola .. 8,409 14 7 2,601 6 0 30.93 9,050 89%
3. Mathia .. 7,475 2 0 3,313 4 9 44.03 15,200 149%
4. Shabhuapur .. 3,713 12 3 425 7 3 11.55 1,700 34%
(Junior) (b)
(a) On the basis of the actuals (columns 11-18) reached during 1948-49 with the average attendance (column 3-10), the calculated estimated income, were the attendance on the teacher : pupil ratio of 1:30 in first five grades and 1:25 in top three grades.
(b) The figures relating to No. 4 Shambhuapur Basic School which has only 5 grades show vis-a-vis those of the 8 grade schools that a five grade basic School is not only an incomplete Basic School from the educational point of view, but is also less economical.
(c) The ultimate annual recurring standard cost of a Senior Basic School of 8 grades is Rs. 10,200/- and of a Junior Basic School of five grades Rs. 5,000/-.
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"The above table shows that a Senior Basic School has much more favourable economic possibilities than a Junior Basic School. Besides, the income per pupil in grades VI to VIII as will be evident from the tables, is the highest and consequently the contribution of these top grades to the self-sufficiency of an institution is by far the most considerable. Calculating even on an average income per child, the self-sufficiency reaches to 67 per cent.
Another point to note why a full-fledged Basic School of 8 grades is preferable to one of 5 grades is that with the higher age range covered and habits of citizenship are well established. Wastage is thus reduced both on the cultural and on the economic side in a Senior Basic School."
2. The non-recurring cost on land, building, live stock, tools, will certainly be higher in the case of a school of 8 years than in that of 5 years. But the efficacy and superiority of Basic Education will be more quickly evident to the general public if we go on planning establishment from the very beginning of 8 years' school rather than of 5 years' schools. This will result in substantial contribution forthcoming from the society in the shape of free offers of land, building, etc. Loan also may be floated for non-recurring expenditure when it gives the possibility of reducing recurring expenditure.
Explanatory Note to the Memorandum. The figures Rs. 10.200/- on page 79 of the memorandum is the standard cost of a senior composite Basic School in Bihar comprising all the 8 grades, I to VIII. It has been arrived at as follows:-
(i) Teachers are to be provided on the basis of the teacher-
pupil ratio of 1 to 30 in the first 5 grades (I to V) and 1 to 25 in the top 3 grades (VI to VIII). Making allowance for absence due to legitimate causes and also for some slight wastage, even under compulsory attendance, the annual enrolment is contemplated at 40 per year in grade I, so that the teacher-pupil ratio as indicated above may not be disturbed and the staff provided may be utilised to the full advantage. Although there will be only 3 senior grades, the number of Senior Basic School teachers is fixed at 4. This will enable the headmaster to have some spare time for the supervision and coordination of work of all the classes and also allow for introduction of an additional craft in the top grades. Thus the average attendance in each composite Basic School of 8 grades is fixed at 250. There is possibility of 150 pupils in attendance in the first 5 grades with 5 Junior Basic School teachers and 100 pupils in attendance in the top 3 grades with 4 senior basic school teachers. The enrolment may, however, in the whole school, exceed 250 with an annual enrolment of 40 in the first grade. The top limit of 320 in all the 8 grades may not be reached, however, in any school. It should not be impracticable for the full strength of 9 teachers to manage a few extra students over 30 in each of the junior grades and over 25 in each of. the senior grades.
(ii) The revised scales of pay of Basic School teachers sanctioned by the Government of Bihar on revision of the scales of pay recommended by the Central Advisory Board in 1944 are as follows:-
For matriculates trained for Junior Basic. Schools-Rs. 50-2- 70-EB-2-90/ P.M.
For matriculates trained for Senior Basic Schools-Rs. 60-2-80-EB-2100/- P.M.
Headmasters' allowance in addition to pay-Rs. 15/- p.m. for Senior Basic Schools whether only of the top 3 grades or of all the 8 grades.
Headmasters' allowance for Junior Basic Schools-Rs. 10/- p.m.
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(iii) The average annual ultimate recurring expenditure on a composite Senior Basic School of 8 grades having 9 teachers is thus
expected to be Rs. 10,200/- as detailed below:-
Rs.
4. teachers on the senior scale of pay as in para (ii) above an actuarial average of
Rs. 978.24 per year .. .. .. .. .. .. .. 3,912.96
5. teachers on the junior scale of pay as in para (ii) above with an actuarial average
of Rs. 858.24 per year .. .. .. .. .. .. .. 4,291.20
Headmaster's allowance .. .. .. .. .. .. .. 180.00
Total expenditure on the staff 8,384
Other expenses (including raw materials, craft contingencies etc.) .. .. .. 1,800
Grand Total .. 10,184
Rounded in hundreds .. 10,200
(iv) In note (c) on page 80 of the memorandum, the standard scale of recurring annual ultimate expenditure on a Junior Basic School of 5 grades with 5 teachers has been shown at Rs. 5,000/. This has been arrived at as below:-
Rs.
Teachers on the Junior Basic Schools teachers scale of pay with an annual actuairl
average or Rs. 858.24 .. .. .. .. .. .. 4,291.20
Headmasters' Allowance at Rs. 10/- p.m. .. .. .. .. .. 120
Other expenses (raw materials, tools and craft contingencies, miscellaneous contin-
gencies, library and social & recreative activity).. .. .. .. 756
Total 5,167
In round figures after taking account of possible savings 5,000
2. The other figures are of calculated income with attendance
secured at the teacher-pupil ratio as indicated in para. 1 W. These are on page 80 have, for their basis, the tables given on page 79 of the memorandum.
(i) The average income per pupil in each grade of the Brindaban area Basic Schools is given in column (4) of this table. Up to grade V, income is derived from Gardening, Spinning and something from cardboard work. There is no specialisation in these grades. In grades VI, VII and VIII, average income varies according to the craft taken. Calculated at the average rates attained for 30 pupils in each of the grades I to V as given in column (4), the total income in the junior section would come to Rs. 1019/8/6 as detailed below:-