APPENDIX D PROGRESS IN ADULT EDUCATION
At their Fifth Meeting held in May 1940, the Central Advisory desired information regarding the progress of adult education to be collected from provincial educational authorities in respect of their areas. Such a report in respect of the progress of adult education was submitted to the Board at their meetings in 1941 and 1942 Reports have been obtained from provincial authorities in regard to tire progress of adult education during 1941-42 and are summarised below for the information of the Board.
PROVINCIAL GOVERNMENTS. Assam.-Adult education work is carried On through the Mass Literacy branch of the Education Department and through night schools.
Bengal.-The Bengal Government have forwarded the following note on adult education prepared by the Director of Rural Reconstruction, Bengal in September 1941, with the remark that progress has been impeded on account of the we, and that the Committee on Adult Education has not yet subtracted its report :-
"Bengal has no further progress to report in adult education. The scheme, submitted by the then Director of Rural Reconstruction was not accepted by Government, nor have the committee appointed to go into the question of adult education as yet been able to submit their report. In the result, adult education remains in a most unfortunate suspense.
As regards statistics. it was reported last year that ten thousand schools with about a lakh and fifty thousand pupils existed. But the department had no definite system of collecting Statistics, which has been introduced since and from reports received up-to-date from the 70 Subdivisions out of a total of 86, it appears that the number of night schools in the 70 sub-divisions is at present 7.648 only. Of this 5.736 schools are, reported to be actually alive and functioning while others exist in name only. The total number of adults receiving, education of a sort in these schools,is reported to be 1,93,504. These figures show that though the number of schools has decreased, the number of pupils has shown come increase. But how far this comparative increase should be treated as such is difficult to say. My own impression is that the number of pupils has gone down, the main reasons being as mentioned above that there is no definite scheme no arrangements for training teachers without which adult education cannot be run satisfactorily and no provision to pay
27
them. It seems clear that until a definite scheme is sanctioned and followed up Consistently, no satisfactory results can be expected.
"The present Director of Rural Reconstruction has since submitted another scheme which is at present under consideration of the Government. His scheme aims at establishing in the first year six thousand adult schools, that is, in one out of every group of 20 villages, and slowly and gradually to extend its benefit to all the villages of the province and run them for a period of ten years. The recurring cost has been worked out at Rs. 5 per mensem per school. The scheme contemplates to provide each adult school with a trained teacher and to supply two good lights, one black board, sortie slates and a few copies of the modern adult education primers. In addition, it aims to give. rupee one per month as Government's contribution towards the allowance of the teacher to the village rural reconstruction society, which will run the school. The teacher will get in all Rs. 3 per month and it is proposed to make up the rest by asking the District Boards and Union Boards to contribute one rupee each per month to the village rural reconstruction society. The cost of contingencies, which is estimated at Rs. 2 per month, is to be raised by the society itself by introducing the system of Mustibhiksha (handful of rice or flour kept for the purpose from each meal) and by building up a village development fund out of small subscriptions paid by the villagers in kind during the harvest time. It will thus appear that Government contribution has been fixed at 1/5th of the total cost, and if the scheme succeeds and Government agree to pay Rs. 12 lakhs a year for 10 years, it is confidently hoped that in the decade 1941-51 illiteracy, at least from the male adult population of the province, shall have become very nearly a matter of the past.
"One of the most difficult and stumbling blocks in the way of sanctioning any scheme of adult education in this province has been the conflict of ideas between the Rural Reconstruction and the Education Departments. The latter claim that adult education should be controlled entirely by them. The Rural Reconstruction Department on the other hand say that in view of the fact that adult education is a branch of social reconstruction and that the movement will require far more energy and enthusiasm than the Education Department, can reasonably be expected to spare, the Rural Reconstruction Department are better fitted, to take it up. Besides, the Rural Reconstruction Department are the principal organisers of the village societies and from that consideration too they are better suited to take up the work. The present Director of Rural Reconstruction is, therefore, of the opinion that the best thing to do is to form a Board consisting of representatives of both the Education and the Rural Reconstruction Departments, so that the movement may be able to secure the best from both. Unfortunately the Education Department hive not been able to a agree to this yet.
"The Rural Reconstruction Department have not, however sat idle and have, done whatever they could in spite of these difficulties. In collaboration with the Calcutta University Institute, they organised training in adult education together with rural reconstruction, exhibition and a course of lectures for the students of the Calcutta University and colleges. This was done on the eve of summer vacation when the students were going back to their villages. The Director delivered a series of lectures on various topics including adult education and made, the suggestion that the student community should not merely contribute a great deal more than they have done in the past in the field of social service, but there should be a real and compulsory "social conscription so that every youth who goes up to the matriculation standard may be made to give one year's national service he is allowed to prosecute, his studies further. This created considerable enthusiasm and was widely support and commented upon. The Director hopes that he will soon take up the Dacca University and, in fact, all the colleges and high schools in the province.
"It may also be mentioned that the Director of Rural Reconstruction, who is also the Chief Controller of Jute Regulation, has been giving intensive training to about six thousand officers and workers of the Jute Regulation Department. These men, it is hoped will be able to spare enough time and energy to give the movement of rural reconstruction and its most important part, namely adult education a real flip. The programme will commerce from October next and it is hoped that inspite of the absence of any monetary support from the Government, Bengal will make good progress.
Bihar .- Cautious expansion and consolidation were the main objectives during the year 1941-42. Greater emphasis was laid on post-literacy work and a Post-Literacy Test was introduced. Steps were taken to reorganise and improve the working of village libraries. An Adult Education Summer School was held at Ranchi, the average daily attendance being over 400 and there was also a Ladies Provincial Literacy Conference to suggest measures for stimulating literacy work among women. The Government extended the Mass Literacy Scheme for another period of three years. A whole time Secretary was also appointed.
Literacy work on an intensive scale was started in 16 Thanas, where out of about 1,46,177 educable illiterates as many as 1,27,626 were under instruction in pre-literacy classes and 84,991 passed Literacy Test up to 31st March, 1942. The results in one Thana were very disappointing. In non-Intensive Areas there were 5,265 Pre-and Post-literacy centres where 88,307 adults were under instruction out of woman 53,483 passed the Pre-or Post literacy Tests, The number of centres under the Rural Development Sugar Mills and Canegrowers' Co- operative Societies showed a decrease during the year and literacy work at Jamshedpur town had to be suspended.
Literacy work in Schools and Colleges showed better results during the year under Jamshedpur town had to be suspended. review. The "Make Your Home Literate" campaign in the schools is making steady progress. 4.424 student volunteers made 24289 persons literate during 1941-42 as against 14.839 in 1940-41.
28
The following table sums up the progress made during the year udder review:-
Pre-literacy.* Post-literacy
Kind of centres
No. of No. under No. No. of No. under No.
centres. instruction Passed centres. instruction. Passed.
Directly under Dis-
trict Inspectors. 11,872 2,29,932 1,51,083 7,001 1,28,374 87,050
Under other agen-
cies 1,308 Not available 44,902 Nil Nil Nil
Women's centres 354 10,575 7,289 82 254 860
Total 13,534 2,40,507 2,03,274 7,083 1,28,628 87,919
These included 60,634 Harijans and 68,777 Aboriginals. The total number of people. made literate between 26th April 1938 and 31st March 1942 exceeds 13 lakhs.
In 1941-42 there were 10,575 women's under instruction out of. whom 7,289 passed the Literacy Test, the respective figures for 1940- 41 being 11,625 and 7,542.
Supervision of literacy centres and libraries was made effective by means of-inspection by the Director of, Public Instruction and frequent visits and reports by Inspecting Officers. During 1941-42, 634,000 books were issued from the Libraries as against 500,123 in 1940-41.
Library and Prize books were prepared. Song books in Kharia and Ho have proved to be very popular. The "Roshni" continued to be published. Illustrations were added and other improvements made.
The enthusiasm of the voluntary workers in rural areas continues unabated. Out of 20,342 workers 4,963 were professional teachers and the rest non-teachers.
The total expenditure in 1941-42 amounted to Rs. 2,03,764, All possible efforts were made to keep down expenditure which has nevertheless increased on, account of the rise in prices of lanterns, oil, slates and reading materials.
Bombay.-The total number of classes at the end of the year 1941- 42 was about 800 attended by over 24,000 adults. During the year over 7.000 adults passed the literacy test and grants amounting to Rs. 35,000 were paid to, these classes. A provision of Rs. 1,00,000 has been made for grants to such classes during 1942-43.
2. A scheme for the training-of adult education workers, was introduced during the year and training classes were held at 5 different pieces for a period of two weeks and some 200 workers received training They were taught to teach illiterate adults and to take an interest in general village activities. The total expenditure during the year was about Rs. 2,300. A provision of Rs. 6,000 has been made for this purpose in the budget of 1942-43.
3. For post-literacy work, a scheme of village reading rooms and libraries was introduced during the year. Under the scheme village libraries when registered are eligible, to receive a grant of Rs. 30 to 50 according to the size of the village. Some 760 libraries were registered and paid grants amounting to Rs. 22,000. A sum of Rs. 60,000 has been provided for the purpose during 1942-43.
4. During the year the Provincial Board for Adult Education which was first appointed in 1938 , was reappointed for a further period of 3 years.
5. For the abolition of adult illiteracy in Bombay City, there is a separate Bombay City Adult Education Committee. During the year 1941-42, the Committee maintained some 1,000 literacy classes for adults (in Marathi, Urdu, Gujrati, Hindi, Kannad, Telugu and Tamil) and about 100 post-literacy classes. The classes were attended by over 19,000 adults (14,000 men and 5,000 women). During the year 9,300 adults passed the literacy test. To enable adults to maintain literacy, the Committee published during the year a fortnightly pamphlet 'Saksharata Deep' containing suitable reading matter printed in bold type and it also, made arrangement for the use in its classes of 'Rahbar', an Urdu news sheet for adult literates. which is published by a member of the Committee. The total expenditure of the Committee was Rs. 57,800 towards which Government paid a grant of Rs. 51,200.
NOTE.-The information given above regarding the Urdu classes of the Bombay City Adult Education Committee and Rahbar is taken from the Report of the Committee for 1941-42.
Central Provinces and Berar.-In 1941-42 there were 32 adult schools for men with an enrolment of 1,238 and 2 adult schools for women with in enrolment of 370.
Madras.-There are no fresh developments to report.
N.W. F. Province.-Owing to heavy recruitment to the fighting forces,, Police, Civil Defence Forces and the Civic Guards it has not been possible to extend adult education to any appreciable extent. It is, however, noted with satisfaction that menials working in educational institutions and a number of old men who can find time to attend adult classes have been doing so, and a large number of these have learnt how to read and write.
29
Remarkable success has been attained with adult schools started for adolescent prisoners in Haripur and Dehra Ismail Khan Jails.
Orissa.-There has been no development in respect of adult education for which there is at present little popular enthusiasm.
Punjab.-Owing to acute financial stringency a sum of Rs. 48,800 only was provided for expenditure on the anti-illiteracy campaign during 1941-42, as compared with the sum of Rs. 98,800 during 1940-41. The movement already launched had consequently to be curtailed.
No new adult literature could be purchased during the year for want of funds.
There were 1,16,123 adults under instruction on the 31st March 1942, as compared with 1,18,298 on, the 31st March-1941, There were 2,917 literacy leagues and 3,266 literacy centres at the end of 1941- 42 as compared with 2,833 and 3,243 at the end of the previous year.
Sind.-No now developments are-reported.
United Provinces.-The various aspects of the Scheme as detailed in the previous, report continued during the period. under report. The Government adult, schools made 56,985 persons literate -while the 1,006 aided schools turned out 12,541 literates, 8,877 voluntary workers, including 177 women, made 47,647 persons literate during the year. , The 139 Police schools functioning in 38 districts of the Province made 1,942 constables and chowkidars literate. The total number of literates made during the year was 1,53,185 of whom 4,748 were women. The decrease in the number of literates this year was due to the fact that the, time of the officials and the public was mostly taken up by "War effort."
The work in the Jails was extended and efforts were intensified with the co-operation of the jail authorities. The, Education department make contribution towards the salary of teachers in 12 jails. During the year 1941-42 29,173 convicts were made literate. The numbers of persons made literate under the "Village, Adoption Scheme" and those taught only to sign their names under the "No Thumb Impression Campaign" were 4,123 and 63,726 respectively.
During the year 16,81,375 books were issued from the Government libraries and reading zooms. Newspapers and magazines were read out to 42,74,976 persons. The total attendance An these institutions reached 53,82,94.3 during the year Grant-in-aid, was paid to 506 private libraries. 250 libraries of the Rural Development Department were supplied with weeklies and magazines.
The Scheme of Visual Education was also launched in 1941 . A noiseless cinematograph machine with equipment including a number of educative and war films has been purchased and demonstration have also been given.
The preparation of special book; on Adult Psychology, Languages (Hindi and Urdu), History Civic Geography, Arithmetic and General Science for post literacy education has been taken in hand.
In the libraries a special section has been started which will include books written in simple language on subjects useful to the villagers. These books are being written by specialists, and the manuscripts of books on soils and water, dietetics, milk and on cattle diseases have been completed.
Production of war literature, with special reference to India, has been an important activity of the Department during the year. Besides the profusely illustrated and attractive monthly magazine "Sachitra Sansar" or "Duniya Bataswir" which has gained in popularity the following illustrated publications of the Department in Hindi and Urdu deserve special mention
1. India and the Great War. 2. Indian Heroes in the Great war. 3. R. A. F. 4. Album of literacy posters.
The Fourth Literacy Day was celebrated on February 2, 1,942, throughout the Province and was a great success. On that day 8,922 meetings were held and were attended by 17,60,992 persons.
Propaganda meetings by teachers and workers were, held frequently in the villages, as usual.
LOCAL ADMINISTRATION. Ajmer-Merwara.- No new developments are reported.
Baluchistan.-No new developments are reported.
Coorg.-There is one Night School for the education of adults and its working is normal.
Delhi.-The number of Adult Schools in Delhi Province has recently risen considerably due to the fact that the Municipal Committee. Delhi. now runs 16 adult schools instead of One reported last year. No adult school is now run by the Government for the reason that the Government Commercial institute has since been absorbed into the Delhi Polytechnic. The total number of adults receiving instruction in these schools stands at 2.652. Detailed rules governing the equipment, maintenance, finances, and syllabus of adult schools run by the District Board have been framed.
Adidt education for women.-There are no recognised adult schools for women, Last year a very simple scheme was drawn up. During inspections the girls reading in Classes IV and V were advised to reach at least one woman to read and knit and sew. This advice has been given in the rural and Urban areas. If the Central Advisory Board of Education and the Government also press this scheme. girls in villages will learn to make some use of the free education given to them. Work of this type will help to provide wholesome occupation for gifts who do not know how to utilise, their leisure hours. The inspecting staff would test these women. A small reward could be given to schools to encourage this enterprise.
30