 APPENDIX F
MATRICULATION SUB-COMMITTEE
 REPORT

Report of the Matriculation Sub- Committee of the Central Advisory Board of Education, held on the 23rd March 1942, at the University Buildings, Delhi.

At their seventh meeting held in January 1942, the Central Advisory of Education were informed that the Inter-University Board at their last meeting had appointed a Committee to go Into the quest-ion of the relation of the School Leaving Certificate Examination to the Matriculation Examination. The Central Advisory, Board of Education felt it desirable also to appoint a Committee to consider this subject and decided to suggest to the Inter-University Board that the two Committees should collaborate . The Board also wished for Committee to bear in mind the desirability of raising progressively the standard required for entrance to Universities, particularly in connection with the three year degree course which some Universities have in contemplation. The two Committees, as constituted by the Central Advisory Board of Education and the Inter-University Board, met together at the University Buildings, Delhi, on the 23rd March 1942, at 11 A.M. The following members were present.

R. P. Masani, Esquire, M.A., J.P,, Vice-Chancellor, University of Bombay, (in the Chair).

W. H. F. Armstrong, Esquire, M.A., F.C.S., I.E.S., Director of Public Instruction, Punjab.

Dr. P. N. Banerjea, M.A., D.Sc. (Lond.), Bar-at-Law, M.L.A.

J. M. Bottomley, Esquire, C.I.E., M.A.. I.E.S., Director of Public Instruction, Bengal.

Rev. J. C. Chatterji, M.A., Vice-Chancellor. Agra University.

Prof. A. B. A. Haleem, B.A. (Oxon.), Bar.-at-Law, Pro-Vice- Chancellor, Aligarh Muslim University.

S.N. Moos, Esquire, M.A. (Cantab.), I.E.S., Director of Public Instruction, Bombay.

J.C. Powell-Price, Esquire, C.I.E., M.A., I.E.S., Director of Public Instruction,

United Provinces.

Srimati Renuka Ray, B.Sc. (Econ.) Lond

John Sargent, Esquire, C.T.E., M.A., Educational Commissioner with the Government of India.

2. The following members were unable to attend the meeting owing to illness or other reasons :-

Inter-University Board India.

Dr. R. C. Majumdar, M.A.. Ph.D., Vice-Chancellor, University of Dacca.

Dr. Sir C. Ramalinga Reddy, M.A, (Cantab.), Hon, D.Litt., M.L.C., Vice-Chancellor, Andhra University.

Rajakaryapravina Mr. N. S. Subba Rao, M.A. (Cantab), Bar-at-Law, Vice-Chancellor, University of Mysore.

Central Advisory Board of Education.

The Hon'ble Sir Maurice Gwyer, K.C.B.. K.C.S.I., Chief Justice of India

Dr. G. G. R. Hunter M.A. ., D. Phil., F.R.A.I., I.E.S., Director of Public Instruction

Central Provinces & Berar.

R.M. Statham, Esquire, C.I.E., M.A., I.E.S.,, Director of Public Instruction, Madras

3. Mr. W. W. Wood Principal, Delhi Polytechnic , also attend the meeting by invitation., Prof. N. K. Sidhants, M.A ., (Cantab), Secretary, Inter-University Board , India , and Dr. D. M. Sen, M.A., Ph.D. (Lond.), Secretary, Central Advisory Board of Education, were also present

4. The agenda and the connected papers circulated to the members are set out in the annexure.

5. At the request of the members present, Mr. R. P. Masani, Vice Chancellor, Bombay

University presided.

6. The Committee considered it desirable on educational economic and administrative grounds that there should be only one examination at the end of the high school stage and that this examination should be of such a character as to suit,those pupils who will enter employment on leaving school as well as those who intend to proceed to a University. The Committee were in general agreement. that the object of this examination should be to, provide a qualifying, test, for admitting students to their further courses of studies as well as a test of the work done in the schools The Committee, therefore, came to the conclusion that an examination with only a limited range of subjects, e.g. Languages, classical and modern, History,Geography, Mathematics and Science, cannot satisfy the reasonable requirements both-of pupils who will proceed to a University and of those who will enter a profession at the end of their school career.

7. The Committee next considered what should be the minimum contents of an examination designed with the two-fold purpose of testing (i) the satisfactory completion of a course suited to the requirements of those who will pass directly from high schools to occupations of various kinds,and (ii) the suitability of those who desire admission to a University or an equivalent course of study. Opinion was general that, it was desirable to prescribe a uniform range of subjects both for the School Leaving and the Matriculation and that the regulations should be so framed as to encourage some degree of specialisation towards the end of the high school stage.

8. Having defined in broad terms the nature of the examination, the Committee were of opinion that the outline syllabus of the examination should be as follows:

Compulsory Subjects.

English (2 papers of 2 hours each or 1 paper of 3 hours).

A Modern Indian Language (2 papers of 2 hours each or 1 paper of 3 hours).

Optional Subjects

Among the following Optional Groups a student should take not less than four and not more than six subjects among which at least one must be from Group A and, another from Group C. or D.

Croup A.

History of India. (One paper of 3 hours).

History of England. (One paper of 3 hours).

Geography (General) (One paper of 3 hours).

Group B.

Languages--other than the compulsory language. (One paper of 3 hours).

Group C.

1. Elementary Mathematics. (One paper of 3 hours).

2. Advanced Mathematics. (One paper of 3 hours).

Group D.

1. Elementary Science. (One paper of 3 hours and a practical test wherever possible).

2. Physics (One paper of 3 hours- and a practical test wherever possible).

3. Chemistry. (One paper of 3 hours and a practical teat wherever possible).

4. Biology. (One paper of 3 hours and a practical test wherever possible).

5. Geography. (One paper of 3 hours and a practical test wherever possible).

Group E.

1. Art. (One paper of 3 hours and practical test wherever possible),

2. Music. (One paper of 3 hours,and a`practical test wherever possible).

3. Crafts (One paper of 3 hours and -a practical test wherever possible),

Group F.

Domestic Science. (One paper of 3 hours and a practical test).

Group G.

1. Book-keeping and Accounts. (One paper of 3 hours).

2. Typewriting (A test of 3 hours).

3. Commercial practice. (One paper of 3 hours).

Group H.

Agricultural Science. (One paper of 3 hours and a practical test).

Group I.

1. General Engineering Science. (One paper of 3 hours and a practical test).

2. Engineering Drawing . (One paper of 3 hours and a practical test).

3. Wood- Workshop Practice. (One paper of 3 hours and a practical test).

4. Engineering-Workshop Practice. (One paper of 3 hours and a practical test).

The Committee have recommended in paragraph 7 above that the Matriculation regulations should encourage, some degree of specialisation towards the end of the High School stage.

The Committee were also in agreement that the Universities in admitting students would be free, should the circumstances require its to prescribe a, higher standard of attainment in a subject or subjects than would be required to secure a pass in the case of students not proceeding to a University.

The Committee further decided to suggest that, where it does not already exist there should be set up in the different areas a joint Board consisting of representatives of the Universities, Educational Authorities and the Schools concerned and that this Board should be responsible for Settling the detailed arrangements and conducting the examination

ANNEXURE A.

AGENDA FOR THE MEETING ON MARCH THE 23RD AND 24TH, 1942 OF THE COMMITTEES APPOINTED BY THE CENTRAL ADVISORY BOARD OF EDUCATION AND THE INTER-UNIVERSITY BOARD TO CONSIDER THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN THE SCHOOL LEAVING CERTIFICATE AND MATRICULATION EXAMINATIONS.

(1) To consider whether it is desirable on educational economic and administrative grounds that there should be, only one examination at the end of the High School course and that this examination should be of such a character as to suit those pupils who will enter employment on leaving school as well as those who intend to proceed to a University.

(2) To consider whether an examination with a limited range of subjects, e.g.,Languages (classical and modern), History, Geography, Mathematics and Science can satisfy the reasonable requirements of the two categories of pupils referred to in (1) above

(3) If the answer to (1) above is yes, and to (2) above no, to consider what should be the minimum contents of the examination designed-

(a) to test the satisfactory completion of a course suited to the requirements of those who will pass directly from the High School to occupations of various kinds;

(b) to test, the suitability of those who desire admission to a University or equivalent course of study.

(4) To consider whether universities for their Matriculation purposes would be justified in prescribing a uniform range of subjects for all candidates or- whether the Matriculation regulations should encourage some degree of specialisation towards the and of the High School stage.

(5) To consider whether universities would be justified in requiring for Matriculation a higher standard of attainment, in individual subjects than would be required to secure a pass in the case of students not proceeding to a University.

(6) To consider the best means of embodying the requirements of (3) above in a single examination syllabus.

ANNEXURE B.

COPY OF CIRCULAR LETTER NO 1514-1520, DATED THE 2ND MARCH 1942, FROM THE SECRETARY INTER-UNIVERSITY BOARD,INDIA, TO THE MEMBERS OF THE SUB-COMMITTEE APPOINTED By THE INTER-UNIVERSITY BOARD TO GO INTO THE QUESTION OF MATRICULATION EXAMINATION.

A meeting of the Sub-Committee appointed under Resolution III of the last meeting of the Inter-University Board will be held in the Delhi University Buildings, Delhi, on 23rd March at 11 A.m. If the work is not finished on the 23rd, the Committee will continue it an the 24th at 10.30 A.M.

The items referred to the Sub-Committee by the Inter-University Board are as follows:-

1. To devise ways and means of securing, as much uniformity as possible, in the subjects of study for the Matriculation or Entrance Examinations of all-the Indian Universities and Boards of High School and Intermediate Education.

2. To consider the question of the relationship of the Universities and Technical Education in India.

I send herewith copies of a speech and a letter of Sir C. Ramalinga Reddy, regarding the Matriculation Examination as also a copy of the Andhra University brochure on the reorganization of Secondary and University Education. The resolutions of a Committee of the InterUniversity Board which met at Bombay in this connection in March 1940 are also enclosed.

ANNEXURE C.

EXTRACTS FROM A LETTER OF SIR C. RAMALINGA REDDY, CHAIRMAN OF THE INTER-UNIVERSITY BOARD SUB-COMMITTEE REGARDING THE SCOPE OF THE MATRICULATION EXAMINATION

"Should the Matriculation be a general introduction to the University or should it be so Specialised as to be an introduction to particular branches for particular candidates? At the present time the candidates for Matriculation take five compulsory subjects, viz., English, a Second Language, Mathernatics, Elementary Science and History and Geography. In addition, they take one Or Imore subjects which are in the nature of specialisation in Mathernatics or the Sciences or History and Geography. The students who thus specialism naturally seek admission only to the relative group in the Intermediate; and in some of our Universities as you know none are admitted to those groups unless they have specialized. The Matriculation hailceased to be a general introduction to the University, which it was in the old days.

One of the fundamental issues is, should not the Matriculation be such that a student at the fairly good age of 15 or 16 would be left to choose, according to his tastes and inclinations, any group he likes in the Intermediate and be qualified to join it? Doubtless this will involve our revising the Intermediate courses so as to enable the students coming from a Matriculation in which there are no specialised optionals to take such courses as they feel fitted for.

It may be that this will mean a lowering in the standard of information that, the Matrics would possess under such a scheme. But it may not mean a lowering of intelligence or phusical or mental development. However this is one of the issues yet to be dealt with The other thing is if yon are going to make a basic amount of general culture compulsory in the Technical High Schools favoured by Mr. Sargent, why not keep the balance by making a certain amount vocational and technical education compulsory in the general Matriculation? This aspect is dealt with in my speech and I do not wish to say anything more."

ANNEXURE D.

Report of the Sub-Committee

We consider as in most cases the present Matriculation or High School Examination is overweighted and the courses need simplification, the course of studies for the Matriculation or Entrance Examinations needs to be revised so as to make it less heavy. while serving the double purpose of a School Certificate Examination and as an Entrance Examination for admission to the University. We recommend that the Examination should be in two parts, the first consisting of subjects from which selection should be made in accordance with the student's aptitude and the course he proposes to take up at the University or elsewhere. The compulsory group consists of subjects which includes, in addition to English and a Second Language, subjects like Elementary Mathematics and Elementary Science and History and Geograpby in all of which one should have a minimum equipment.

The optional group or Part II, consists of subjects, any one of which a student may offer for examination, or if he so desires, a selection from two of the subjects, i.e. a paper from each of the two.

Compulsory Subjects (one paper of three hours each).

1. English ;

2. Elementary Science (including elementary Physics, Chemistry and Biology);

3. Elementary Mathematics (Arithmetic and Algebra);

4. History and Geography (in outline);

5. A second language Modern or Classical.

Optional Subjects. Two papers from one or two groups of the, following subjects:

(a) History Group (including Geography Physical and Commercial);

(b) Language Group (Western and Eastern Languages);

(d) Natural Science Group, (Chemistry, Biology and Zoology);

(e) Vocational Group;

(f) Fine Arts Group.

N. S. SUBBA RAO,

Chairman. 28th March, 1940.

ANNEXURE E.

NOTE TO THE MATRICULATION COMMITTEES OF THE CENTRAL ADVISORY BOARD OF EDUCATION AND OF THE INTER-UNIVERSITY BOARD, BY SIR. C. RAMALINGA RADDY.

I visited the Delhi Polytechnic recently. The Principal, Mr. Wood, told me that he was laying emphasis on general education and that the junior students had only 2 hours a week of Practical Work and the senior students 3 hours, Practical Work per week. (I hope my memory has not misled me)

In the scheme suggested by one of the committees which met at Madras and which I have given in my Belgaum address two principles are embodied

(1) The principle of balanced education, and (2) a good deal more time than what Mr. Wood is giving for Polytechnic for Practical Work.

So I do not see why this type of balanced Matriculation should not be made the normal organization in India.

The only objection is cost . If you start an isolated technical school here and an isolated technical school there, the cost would be less and the, administration could claim that they at encouraging technical education, whereas my scheme involves the conversion of all into one balanced composite type differing from each other only in the nature and number of the technical subjects to be included. And there should be an examination for these subjects, just as you are having in the Delhi Polytechnic.

APPENDIX F MATRICULATION SUB-COMMITTEE REPORT