CABE, 6TH MEETING 1941

 PROCEEDINGS OF THE SIXTH MEETING
 OF THE CENTRAL ADVISORY BOARD OF
 EDUCATION IN INDIA HELD AT MADRAS
 ON THE 11TH AND 12TH JANUARY 1941.

The Central Advisory Board of Education held its sixth meeting at Madras on Saturday and Sunday, January the 11th and 12th, 1941. The following members were present:-

1. The Honourable Sir Girja Shankar Bajpai, K.B.E., C.I.E., I.C.S., Member of the Viceroy's Executive Council, Department of Education, Health and Lands

(Chairman).

2. John Sargent, Esquire, M.A, Educational Commissioner with the Government of India.

3. The Right Honourable Sir Akbar Hydari, LL.D., President of H. E. H. the Nizam's Executive Council, Hyderabad-Deccan.

4. Dr. A. F. Rahman, LL.D., B.A, (Oxon), Member, Federal Public Service Commission.

5. Rajkumari Amrit Kaur.

6. The Honourable Sir Maurice Gwyer, K.C.B., K.C.S.I., Chief Justice of India.

7. The Honourable Diwan Bahadur Sir K. Ramunni Menon.

8. Dr. Sir Zia-ud-Din Ahmad, C.I.E., Ph.D., D.Sc., M.L.A.

9. Pandit Amaranatha Jha, M.A., Vice-Chancellor, Allahabad University.

10. Dr. R. C. Mazumdar, Ph.D., Vice-Chancellor, Dacca University.

11. Dr. C.R. Reddy, Vice-Chancellor, Andhra University.

12. H. C. Papworth, Esquire, O.B.E., I.E.S., Director of Public Instruction, Madras.

13. S. N. Moos, Esquire', M.A., I.E.S., Director of Public Instruction, Bombay.

14. Dr. W. A. Jenkins, D.Sc., I.E.S., Officer on Special Duty, Education Department, Bengal.

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

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

17. Dr. G. G. R. Hunter, M.A., D.Phil. (Oxon), F.R.A.I., I.E.S., Director of Public Instruction, Central Provinces and Berar.

18. G. A. Smali, Esquire, B.A., I.E.S., Director of Public Instruction, Assam.

19. The Honourable Shaikh Abdul Majid, Minister of Education, Sind.

20. Shamsul-Ulema Dr. U. M. Daudpota, M.A., Ph.D., Director of Public Instruction, Sind.

21. S. C. Tripathi, Esquire, B.A., I.R.S., Director of Public Instruction, Orissa.

Dr. D. M. Sen, M.A., Ph.D., Secretary, Central Advisory Board of Education in. India, was also present at the meeting.

Nine members of the Board, viz.,

1. The Rt. Rev. G. D. Barne, C.I.E., O.B.E., V.D., Bishop of Lahore.

2. Lady Glancy.

3. The Honourable Sir Andrew Clow, C.S.I., C.I.E., I.C.S., Member of the Viceroy's Executive Council, Department of Communications.

4. Lala Shri Ram.

5. P. F. S. Warren, Esquire.

6. Rao Bahadur Sir V. T. Krishnamachari, K.C.I.E., Dewan of Baroda.

7. Abdur Rasheed Chaudhury, Esquire., M.L.A.

8. J. S. Armour, M.A., I.E.S., Director of Public Instruction, Bihar.

9. Khan Sahib Khan Shah Alam Khan, M.A., L.L.B., Director of Public Instruction, North-West Frontier Province.

were unable to attend the meeting.

2. The Proceedings were opened at 11 A.M. by the Chairman, the Honourable Sir Girja Shankar Bajpai.

3. The following items constituted the agenda:-

I. To confirm the Proceedings of the fifth meeting of the Central Advisory Board of Education held in Simla on the 6th and 7th May 1940.

II. To receive and consider the views of the Provincial Governments on the recommendations made by the Adult Education Committee of the Central Advisory Board of Education, 1930.

III. To receive and consider the views of the Provincial Governments on the recommendations made by the Second Basic Education Committee of the Central Advisory Board of Education, 1939.

IV. To receive and consider reports from Provincial Governments on recent or prospective developments in primary and adult education.

V. To receive and consider the views of Provincial Governments and Universities in India on the question of withholding the emoluments of scholarships from the students whose parents are able to provide education without the assistance of a scholarship.

VI. To receive and consider the report of the Committee of the Central Advisory Board of Education appointed at its meeting held in may 1940 to examine in detail the question of the adoption of a uniform scientific terminology for regional languages in India.

VII. To receive and consider the report of the Committee of the Central Advisory Board of Education appointed at its meeting held in May 1940 to examine the question of the establishment of a centre or centres in India for the study of social service and its relation to public administration.

VIII. To consider the desirability of having a separate School Leaving Certificate Examination in addition to the Matriculation Examination in the light of experience gained by the Provinces in this respect.

IX. To consider the facilities that are being offered in Indian Universities to students of British Universities who have returned to India on account of the war without finishing their courses.

X. To consider whether it is possible to adopt a uniform system of nomenclature throughout India for the designation of teachers in colleges.

XI. To consider the desirability of setting up an Expert Committee to examine what steps can be taken in the interest of economy and efficiency to improve the planning, construction and equipment of school buildings.

XII. To consider what practical steps could be taken by Education Authorities in co-operation with Public Health Authorities to improve the physical condition of school children by--

(a) establishing an efficient system of school medical inspection and treatment;

(b) calling the attention of teachers and parents to the importance of a proper diet and providing where necessary suitable meals at school in cases of under- nourishment;

XIII. To receive and consider the views of the Inter-University Board on the question of the desirability or otherwise of excising undesirable passages from text-books prescribed for university studies.

XIV. To consider the question of imparting instruction on the subject of "kindness to animals" in schools in India.

XV. To consider the question of the adoption of a uniform Braille Code in the schools for the blind throughout India.

XVI. To fix the date and place of the seventh meeting of the Central Advisory Board of Education.

XVII. To consider the question of appointing a permanent sub. committee of the Central Advisory Board of Education for "Examinations".

The explanatory memoranda on items II, III, IV, V, VIII, IX, X, XII, XIII, XIV and XV of the agenda which had been circulated to the members of the Board previous to the meeting are reproduced in Appendix I.

4. Item I.-The Proceedings of the fifth meeting of the Board as circulated were confirmed, subject to the substitution of the words both of great importance' for the words 'of equal urgency' occurring in para. 8(1) of page 4.

It was decided that henceforward the Proceedings of the Board when confirmed should be published and put on sale. The Chairman announced his intention of arranging a Press Conference at an early date with a view to securing as wide a publicity as possible for the Board's proceedings.

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5. Items II, III and IV.-It was resolved that (a) the information supplied by Provincial Governments be recorded and (b) the record be circulated for information and guidance to all Provincial Governments.

The Board decided that in future information should be collected not only from Provincial Governments but also from voluntary agencies with a recognised all-India status which might be in a position-to supply useful data or advice in regard to specific points.

The Board felt that it would be materially assisted in discharging its with regard to educational regard to important matters like basic or adult education could be obtained from the responsible authorities and if these reports could be examined and, where necessary commented upon by the appropriate Standing Committee of the Board before submission to the Board itself. To achieve this object it was agreed that in future arrangements should be made for the meetings of the Board to be preceded by meetings of the Standing Committees. It was recognised that this might involve some changes in the personnel of these committees if, as is probable, it may be found convenient for them to meet concurrently.

6. Item V.-The Board considered the views of the Provincial Governments and Universities in India on the question of withholding the emoluments of scholarships provided out of public funds from those students whose parents are financially capable of meeting the cost of their education. It was apparent from the replies received that there was a considerable divergence of opinion on this subject. In the opinion of the Board scholarships can be divided into two categories:-.

(a) prizes awarded in recognition of outstanding scholastic distinction;

(b) grants awarded to enable students of ability to continue their studies.

With regard to (a.) the Board felt that these awards should be made entirely on merit and that the winners should be entitled to the emoluments irrespective of the financial circumstances of themselves or their parents.

With regard to (b) the Board were of opinion that here again merit should be the primary criterion, i.e., no student should be eligible for any award unless he had reached the prescribed standard. Subject to this proviso those eligible candidates who cannot satisfy the responsible, authorities that they are in need of financial assistance to continue their studies should be awarded Honorary Scholarships and the emoluments thereof transferred in order of merit to other eligible, candidates, if any. who have established their need of assistance.

It was further agreed that the practical application of this principle would involve the framing of scales of income limits which would vary at, different stages of education and would take account of financial liabilities e.g., responsibility for the maintenance or education of other children devolving on the person concerned.

The holders of honorary scholarships would be entitled to claim the, emoluments in the event of a change in their financial circumstances bringing them within the prescribed income limits.

7. Item VI.-The Rt. Honourable Sir Akbar Hydari presented the report of the Scientific Terminology Committee, of which he was the Chairman. The report of the Committee will be found in Appendix II. The Board adopted the recommendations of the Committee subject to the following modifications:-

(a) No. II (ii) in the Main Conclusions and Recommendations should be deleted. The great majority of the members present were of opinion that the adoption of this recommendation would introduce an unnecessary complication since the legitimate aspirations of modern Indian languages in this respect could be, satisfied under (iii) which, as the Chairman pointed out, did not preclude the adoption of new words formed and evolved in accordance with the traditions and genius of a people as distinct from neologisms invented, as it were for their own sake. Rajkumari Amrit Kaur recorded her dissent from the decision of the Board.

(b) The two main groups into which Indian languages may be divided should be Sanskritic and Perso-Arabic instead of Hindustani and Dravidian as suggested by the Committee.

(c) The words 'Mathematical propositions and questions occurring in recommendation No. V and in para. 12 (a) in the report to be changed to 'Mathematical processes and formulate

8. Item VII.-The Honourable Sir Maurice Gwyer presented the report of the Social Service and Public Administration Committee, of which he was the Chairman. The report of the Committee will be found in Appendix III. A letter from the Director of the Sir Dorabji Tata Graduate School of Social Work (cf. Appendix IV) was also before the Board. The need for an All-India Council of Social Service with a central research institute was generally accepted. Discussion centred mainly on the question of the extent to which such a central institute should or could undertake the training of social workers. The general opinion was that since practically all the subjects covered by the term social service are included in the field of Provincial Administration, it would be impracticable for the training of workers to be carried out on an all-India basis. This practical training would best be done at Provincial centres. While, however, research should be the main function of the Central Institute, its students might be expected in the normal course to return to work in the Provinces and during their time at the Central Institute they would also require facilities for 'field work'. It would not be possible to decide the precise structure of the central organisation recommended by the Committee without more detailed information as to what is being done in the field of social service by various agencies, official and voluntary, in various parts of the country.

The Board adopted the Committee's report generally, but decided that before implementing its recommendations Provincial Governments and voluntary agencies of all-India character should be requested to furnish detailed information regarding (i) existing agencies engaged in social service in their areas (including universities), (ii) the scope of their activities, (iii) their relation to one another and the means adopted to coordinate their activities. Suggestions should also be invited as to ways and means of consolidating and extending the work of social service generally and particularly among women.

The Chairman announced his intention, should the replies from the Provincial Governments justify it, of calling a conference of representatives of Provincial Governments and voluntary agencies.

With regard to the letter from the Director of The Sir Dorabji Tata Graduate School of Social Work, the Board considered that until the reports from the Provinces had been received, it would not be feasible to consider the claims of any existing institution to be recognised as a central institute. It was, however, decided that in view of the very important work which the Tata Institute is doing in the field of social work it should be included among the agencies which it is proposed to consult in the matter.

9. Items VIII and X.-These two items were referred to a special committee consisting of Sir Maurice Gwyer (Chairman), the Educational Commissioner with the Government of India, Sir Zia-ud-Din Ahmad and the representatives of Provincial Governments and the Inter-University Board. This Commit-tee met on the afternoon of January 11th and submitted its report to the Board at its meeting on January 12th. The following recommendations made by the Committee were adopted by the Board:-

Item VIII.-(a) It is desirable on educational grounds that there should be only one examination at the termination of the normal high school course, i.e., there should not be separate Secondary School Leaving Certificate and Matriculation Examination.

(b) In order to meet the varied aptitudes of the pupils and the circumstances of the vocations and professions which they may be destined to enter, this examination should cover as wide a field as possible.

(c) The Universities could and should find in such an enlarged examination the necessary qualifying test for admitting students to their courses of studies.

Item X.- (i) It is most desirable to adopt uniform designations for the teaching staff of universities and of the constituent or affiliated colleges of universities.

(ii) The indiscriminate use of the title 'Professor' by teachers of all grades in colleges and universities had well-nigh made the term devoid of its essential connotation.

(iii) The following designations are suggested:-

(a) For University teachers:-Professor, Reader, Lecturer, Demonstrator, and Tutor (the designation 'Tutor' is intended to include a teacher whose contact with students is not limited to the lecture-room, but extends to individual teaching and guidance given personally or in the company of not more than two or three students at the same time, It should be made clear that a Tutor need not necessarily be a separate grade of teacher; e.g., a Lecturer may be a Tutor also).

PROCEEDINGS OF THE SIXTH MEETING OF THE CENTRAL ADVISORY BOARD OF EDUCATION IN INDIA HELD AT MADRAS ON THE 11TH AND 12TH JANUARY 1941.