APPENDIX A (a)- (ii) MAIN DEVELOPMENTS IN ADULT EDUCATION.
A. PROVINCIAL GOVERNMENTS Assam
Mahila Samities (Women's Organisations) have been established practically in all the districts. The members have taken up in right earnest the question of adult education among women and have started post literacy centres and are trying to establish Hostels for girl students of schools and colleges. Their work is however very much handicapped for want of funds. Hostel for girls at Gauhati, Nowgong, Jorhat and Silchar are at present the crying needs for which a sum of about Rs. 2 Lacs on a, modest estimate are required. For women's adult education centres, a sum of approximately Rs. 75,000/- per annum is needed.
The scheme of Mass Literacy Movement was taken up by each of the successive Governments during the period. From the middle of 1942, the number of centres was brought down to 903 due to out in the grant necessitated by war emergency. The average annual number of persons who passed during the period 1940 to 1946 was about 33,000.
Supervision and activities in connection with Organisation and propaganda have been carried on in co-operation with the Sub- divisional Inspectorates.
Bihar
As in previous years one Thana or part of a Thana in every district was selected for mass literacy work_ on an intensive wale.
It was decided to develop the present scheme of mass literacy work into an adult education scheme for a period of 3 months upto 1st April, 1947, Under the new scheme it was proposed (a) to continue literacy work on an intensive scale in selected areas (b) to enlist the active co-operation and support of Public associations like the All India Spinners Association, All India Village Industries Association, Harijan Sewak Sangh, Adimjati Sevak Mandali, Jamait-ul- Momine, etc. in the Organisation and supervision of mass literacy and adult education work (c) to start adult Education Centres in High and Middle Schools in the rural areas, the activities of which would include literacy work, starting of Libraries, Reading Rooms, etc. It was decided to arrange with the Publicity Department for visual and oral instructions in all subjects relating to human life through lectures, magic (interns shows etc. It was also decided to start a Publication Branch for the preparation and publication of books suitable for the general public.
The total number of voluntary workers in the literacy centres was 781 of whom 1,423 were teachers and 6,558 non-teachers. The total number of persons who assed the literacy and post-literaoy tests during the year under review was 1,94,185
The Scheme of improvement of village libraries was continued. During the the year under review the total number of books lent out was 6,03,896.
Bombay.
During the year 3300 Adult Education Classess were maintained as against 2000 of the previous year with an attendance of over 70000 adults; of who 4600 passed the literacy test. This increase is due to the special drive that is being made towards the removal of illiteracy in certain compact areas in the district and also to the more organised drive In the Bombay City against illiteracy. The total expenditure incurred by Government on these classes during the year was Rs. 2,10,000.
It was mentioned in the last report that with a view to arousing greater interest in adult education in the rural areas special Officers were appointed to orgainse adult Education Classes in their areas with the help of a Local Committee. The experiment yielded encouraging results and Government decided to extend the scheme to all the 192 talukas in the Province as a part of a Post War planning. As a beginning, the scheme was introduced during the year in 13 other compact areas for men and 1 for women, so that at the end of the year 19 compact areas in selected talukas (including the five started in the previous year ) were functioning in the drive against illiteracy.
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The following figures give some idea of the work that is being done in
these compact areas :-
Number Number of adults Number Remarks
Name of the compact area of on rolls. made literate.
classes.
Males Females Males Females
1. Bhivandi town in Thana
District 24 1073 77 787 45
2. Patan Taluka in Satara
District 88 1834 90 2132 84
3. Belapur Road in Ahmed-
nagar District. 87 2238 111 2134 104
4. Thasra Taluka in Kaira
District 60 1536 64 1119 117
5. Athani Taluka in Belgaum
District 48 2655 227 1477 147
6. Part of Roha Taluka in
Kolaba District 17 427 .. .. ..
7. Chiplun Karad Road in
Ratnagiri District. 10 282 .. .. ..
8. Soundenna in Malegaon
Taluka in Nasik Dist. 33 2288 .. .. ..
9. Indapur Taluka in Poona
District 69 1770 .. .. .. As these areas were
10. Walva and Karad Talukas established late in
in Satara District for the year no adults
Women. 121 .. 1650 .. .. could be pre-
sented for the test
11. Ahmednagar city for before 31-3-1947.
Women 27 34 440 .. .. No figures have
therefore been
given of the adult
12. Jalgaon City for Women turned turned in
in East Khandesh District 51 .. 821 .. .. respect of these
areas.
13. Mandal in Ahmedabad
District 8 227 26 .. ..
14. Halol and Kalol Talukas
in Panchumahals Dist. 13 458 28 .. ..
15. Chikli Taluka, Sura
District 26 456 183 .. ..
16. Saswahalli group in
Navalgund Taluka in Dhar-
war District. 7 267 .. .. ..
17. Bagewadi Taluka in
Bijapur District 16 581 .. .. ..
18. KuDta Taluka in Kanara
District 38 969 .. .. ..
19. Sangola Taluka in Shola-
pur District 20 473 7 .. ..
763 17563 3786 7649 497
The scheme for Home Classes for Women in urban areas, mentioned in the last report was also in operation
2. Four classes for the training of Adult Education workers were held during 1946- 47 and over 136 workers attended the course. An expenditure of Rs. 2900 Was incurred on these classes.
3. The village Libraries aided under the scheme continued to enable the adults made literate to maintain their literacy. 420 New libraries were registered during the year bringing the total number of such libraries to 2390. These libraries used to receive an annual subsidy of Rs. 10 each for the purchase of periodicals suitable for adults. In addition, an initial grant ranging from Rs. 30 to Rs. 50 is paid, for the purchase of equipment to new libraries. The annual subsidy of Rs. 10 has now been raised to Rs. 18. These libraries receive News-sheets and other reading material published by the Government Directorate of information. Special subsidies are also given to certain papers Which publish suitable material for the now literates. Government paid Rs. 34,300 during the year by way of grant-in-aid to these libraries and newspapers.
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B.CENTRALLY ADMINISTERED AREAS Coorg
There are no regular schools for adults but at Hebbale a Night School is run by the District Board for the Harijan labourers. A Harijan teacher is conducting the class on a monthly remuneration of Rs. 12/- p.m. There are 25 students on the rolls. Besides this, under the auspices of the Mahila Samaj at Virajpet, Mercara, and Somwarpet, classes are run to train girls for the several grades of examination of the Hindi Sahitya Pracharak Samity. There is a keen desire among the women folk to pick up Hindi. Arrangement has also been made to teach knitting to girls.
Madras.
The Government have had under consideration for some time past the question of framing a scheme for the spread of adult, education with the two-fold objects of liquidating illiteracy of adults and of improving the knowledge and the edacation already possessed by adults, through education centres, libraries, cinemas, etc. They have now drawn up a scheme of adult education as follows, which provides :-
(1) Adults literacy schools for liquidating illiteracy among, adults;
(2) Training of staff for adult literacy work;
(3) Rural Colleges for giving higher educational training for persons who have had some school education already
(4) Training camps for social service workers;
(5) Training camps for citizenship and youth workers; and
(6) Visual Instruction.
(1) Adult literacy schools
One hundred schools may be opened in 1948-49. A teaching, grant at the rate of Rs. 8 a month per teacher and an additional flat rate of Rs. 4 per month for lighting and other incidental charges will be paid for each school. During the first year, a teacher should be employed for an average attendance of 15 pupils In subsequent years when pupils are taken to a second year course a teacher will be allowed for each class. There should not be more than three teachers in a school as the course is only for three years. For the first two years, for want of teachers trained in adult education, teachers without this training may be allowed to do adult literacy work. In that case, the grant may be Rs. 5 plus 3. Adults between the ages of 13 and 40 will be admitted into the schools with a view to -make them liberates able to read specially prepared books within a year. Instruction will be continued for a further period of two years to enable them to read a newspaper. special methods will be adopted mainly on the lines of the Laubach's quick Literacy Plan and all aids to quick literacy like slides, pictures, charts and reading sheets should be employed.
Hour of Work.-Any part of the morning or evening for a period of not less than an hour and a half should be counted as a school day and 200 such school days may be considered adequate for the year.
Teachers.-Part-time teachers should be employed who should have the following qualifications
(i) A certificate of having passed Form III or VIII standard Public Examination .
(ii) An Adult Education Teacher's Certificate granted after training at one of the recognised centres.
Day school teachers and others who may be employed in other profession or trades will also be eligible to be teachers in these schools, provided they have these two qualifications.
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A syllabus specially prepared and approved for the purpose should be followed in these schools. A special se of books prepared for use by adults should be followed In the latter stages.
Equipment.-In course of time, a small library should be built up In every school.
Any available building in the place should be utilised for the schools. No separate building or furniture of any kind need be provided.
Minimum attendance.-A minimum average attendance of 15 pupils is required for every school. During the first 2 years, the rule may be relaxed to permit schools with a minimum. of 10 pupils to receive grant.
(2) Training of the, stiff for Adult Literacy work
Sanction is accorded for opening of six centres, i.e. two for each linguistic area of Tamilnad and Andhra, one in Malabar and one in South Kanara for this purpose in 1948-49, and for the employment of the following staff for each centre.
(1) A school Assistant with an allowance of Rs.25 per mensem.
(2) A secondary grade teacher with an allowance of Rs. 15 per mensem
(3) A drawing-master on Rs.45 in the scale of Rs. 45-3-90 and a mechanic on Rs. 50/-.
(4) A part-time music teacher on Rs. 30.
Sanction is also accorded for the expenditure of Rs. 100/- a year for contingencies, stationery, etc., and also for the provision of the following equipment in each centre:-
Maximum cost
Rs.
(1) Three petromax lights 80 each
(2) One Magic Lantern 150
(3) One Gramophone 200
(4) Two Bagatelle boards. 15 each
(5) Ton sets of Drawing materials 10
(6) Cut glass pieces for slide-making
and other contingencies 200
Aided managements will be given 2/3 grant for recurring expenditure and half grant for the non-recurring expenditure.
The nature of training.-The candidates admitted to the course will be given instruction and training in adult psychology in methods of teaching adult literates on the Laubach's Quick Literacy Plan, in the preparation and use of slides, charts, and reading sheets and in the methods of imparting general knowledge. They will also be given training in the use of magic lanterns, in singing and the principles of organising village libraries and clubs. The period of training will be six weeks.
Qualifications for Admission.-Any one who has passed Form III or VIII standard Public Examination will be eligible for admission to the course. Teachers in Board Schools and aided schools may also be admitted to the course. They may be granted leave or deputed for the purpose.
During the training, trainees deputed by local bodies or by aided institutions will be paid a stipend of Rs. 15 a month or Rs. 22-8-0 for the entire course. Trainees not deputed by local bodies or by institutions will be paid a stipend of Rs. 22-8-0 a month or Rs. 33-12-0 for the entire course.
A batch of 30 candidates, of which 15 may be deputees and 15 non- deputees will be trained in each centre in 1948-49. As the period of training is short, the candidates will be engaged throughout the day and as such, it will be necessary for them to live at the centre of training. It will be a great advantage if one of the villages where Basic Training, School is proposed to be started next year is selected for this training.
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In order that the Inspecting officers may get acquainted with the methods of adult education a few Deputy Inspectors preferably the Personal Assistants to the Dy. Educational Officers should be asked to take the training for a period of 10 days-a few with each batch. They will be paid no additional allowance, but they can draw the travelling and daily allowances admissible under the rules.
(3) Rural colleges for giving higher education to people who have had some education already :
Sanction is accorded for the opening of three colleges under Government, one for each linguistic area and for the grant of recognition to 20 Colleges if opened by private agencies or by local bodies.
The colleges will be started with a Higher Elementary grade teacher on Rd 30/ per mensem in the scale of pay of Rs. 30-50. Lecturers from colleges ans graduate teachers from high schools and training schools may be selected to givlectures. The services of lawyers and doctors may also be utilized for the pure pose. A remuneration of not more than Rs. 180/- a term may be paid to each lecturer, three such lecturers being appointed for each College.
Sanctioned is also accorded for the following items of expenditure
Non-recurring Maximum expenditure
Rs.
Library 300
Teaching aid 100
Petromax light 80
Magic Lantern 150
Lantern slides 50
Recurring
Lighting, Stationery, etc. 100 a year.
The aided Colleges will be given a 2/3 grant on this basis on recurring expentiture and half-grant for equipment. The fee income will be taken into account deciding the amount of grant to be paid. an aided College may be given pants-in-aid if there is an average strength of not less, than 15 students and if the rrescribed syllabus is followed.
Those who have had education up to a certain standard and who are anxious improve their knowledge will be eligible for admission into these Colleges. The, course will consist of lectures, demonstration and discussions for a continuous periods of two years. The syllabuses of study will include subjects like Literature, Politics, History, Economics, Co-operation, Sociology and some Science subjects. The Colleges may also provide for a variety of Subjects both of an academic and of a practical value, e.g. Agriculture and Engineering. etc. They can also provide for courses of study, which are of special interest to women.
The two-year course will be divided into two terms and each term will consist of 30 lectures. For admission to the course, candidates should have a minimum qualification of a Third Form or VIII Standard and should be able to attend all the lectures for a period of two years. The fee of Re. 1/- per month should be levied from each candidate. The candidates should provide themselves with necessary books. Each College should have not less than an average attendance of 15 pupils for purposes of recognition and aid. The classes, should be held at some convenient time either in the morning or evening-not less than an hour and 45 minutes. A portion of this should be spent on discussion and tutorial instructions.
Tests: At the end of every term there will be a test and at the end of two years a comprehensive examination on the results of which certificates will be issued to the students.
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(4) Training camps for social service workers:-
Sanction is accorded for opening five camps for this purpose, two in Andhra, two in Tamilnad and one in the West Coastattached to existing Social Service institutions. The training of adults for social service will be for 6 weeks and will dual with Social Service in Gandhian ideology. It will provide for rural and social service workers who will take up voluntary work in the villages. The students, not exceeding 30, will be given stipend of Rs. 15/- per mensem, i.e., Rs. 27-8-0 for the course of 6 weeks. There should be 3 teachers and one attender for each camp. They will be paid an allowance of Rs. 50/- and Rs. 25/- per mensem respectively. Sanction is also accorded for expenditure of Rs. 100/- on contingencies and equipment.
(5) Training for citizenship and for leaders in Youth Movement
Sanction is accorded for opening a series of courses for this purpose as explained below. The first course will provide for the training of 120 persons for 15, days for total number of 180 working hours. Out of the 120 trained, about 40 should be selected to become trainers in their turns in future. These forty should organise course preferably in the following places :-
(1) Trichinopoly (2) Coimbatore, (3) Salem, (4) Cuddapah, (5) Bellary (6) Bezwada and (7) Calicut.
This cycle of training should be repeated thrice during the school year 1948-49 with the first of the central training during the term and decentralised training course during the mid-term, Christmas or Pongal and Summer holidays.
Sanction is accorded for the appointment of a Special Officer for three months on a consolidated pay of Rs. 300/- per mensem (Rs. 250 plus Rs.50/-), one Stenographer at Rs. 45/- plus Rs. 35/- Special pay for 3 months, one peon at Rs. 16/per mansom for 3 months, with the usual Dearness allowances, to organise the course of training.
Sanction is also accorded for the following expenditure for each cycle of coursel:
Food for 120 trainees for 15 days at Re. 1/- 1,800
Equipment 500
For 5 Officers-food travelling 300
Office expenses 100
Total 2,700
(6) Visual instruction
Sanction is accorded for the purchase of projectors and films for 8 districts at a cost of Rs. 5,000/- per district and for the employment of one electrical mechanic on a pay of Rs. 40/- plus 22 and one attender on Rs. 20/- plus 16 for each district. The projectors and the set of films will be kept in the District Educational Officer's office in each district, so that they may be loaned out for rent to educational institutions for school or adult educational purposes. A reasonable amount of hire will be charged for the loan of these projectors. The Director of Public Institute will fix the hire.
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C.-INDIAN STATES. Cochin.
A few Adult Education centres that were in existence last year had to be closed down on account of poor strength and at present there exists one centre at Mangayil A new scheme is however under consideration.
Jaipur.
During the last session (1946-47) 38 Adult classes were started in the district and at the end of the course, 350 illiterate adults were made literate and awarded literacy certificates. During the current session (1947-48) Government have appointed a strong committee consisting of officials and influential non-officials with the Education Minister as its Chairman. A special post of an Adult Education Officer has been created and he has been allowed the necessary staff. A literary week was recently held in the city. Several adult classes are now working in the city and three, centres on the lines of clubs for adults have also been started. It is intended to expand the movement in the district gradually.
Mysore.
The Mysore Adult Literacy Council runs a course of 5 months' duration for Adult Education-two months for literacy and 3 months for post-literacy work. The teaching is done mainly by primary school teachers who have undergone training in the teaching of adults. Remuneration is on the basis of the number of adults attending the schools. Library facilities exist and a weekly paper by name `Belaku' is published and distributed to all those schools.
In furtherence of the, scheme of adult education, a now system of education to be imparted through Vidyapeetha or People's College has been proposed and one, Vidyapeetha has been started. The course extends over a period of five months giving training in Agriculture, Weaving and Rome Crafts, besides education and also facilities are afforded to take pupils on excursions to Historical places, Factories and Museums.
The Council is also endeavouring to eliminate illiteracy among women and special facilities are made available where such classes are conduct . To suit the convenience of the village folk, a class is conducted wherever at least 10 women are available and during the year 1946-47, 240 classes were conducted solely for women.
The Council conducted 4,457 literacy classes and made 79,010 persons literate. Of these 240 were started for women and 289 for Adikarnatakas. 376 new rural libraries were opened in the several parts of the State and the number of such libraries was 1,623 with a total membership of 1,52,562. From 1941-42 when the Council started its activities, 2,35,910 persons have been made literate. The Government grant to the Council was increased during the, year 1946-47 from Rs. 3,44,000 to Rs. 4,00,000 and Rs. 5,00,000 for 1947-48.
To have more efficient and proper guidance in the administration of the Council, a Gazetted Officer of the Department of the status of a District Educational Officer has been placed at the disposal of the Council. Travancore.
There is a net work of Departmental Rural Libraries situated in villagers. These institutions are attached to Primary Schools. There are at present 124 such Departmental Rural Libraries. The expenditure or) this account per annum is Rs. 20,000.
There are 72 Aided Libraries and the All Travancore Library Association is doing good work to start more private Libraries. The annual budget provision or Rs. 4,000 towards grant-in aid to private Libraries is enhanced to Rs. 15,000 to give better encouragement to aided Libraries,
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There are many Night Schools and Pial Schools for backward communities run by the Protector of Backward Communities.
N.B.-Information received upto 13th May, 1948 has been included in this memorandum.