APPENDIX `K' MEMORANDUM ON ITEM 13 : CONSIDERATION OF THE REPORT ON THE PROGRESS OF IMPLEMENTATION OF IMPORTANT PLAN SCHEMES DURING 1961-63
PART I
CENTRAL AND CENTRALLY SPONSORED SCHEMES
ELEMENTARY & BASIC EDUCATION
Regional Centre for the Training of Educational Planners,
Administrators and Supervisors In Asia-(Plan Provision: Rs. 25 lakhs)
The general conference of UNESCO held in 1958, authorised the Director-General to initiate programmes for the development of primary education in Asia. One of the programmes considered in this connection was the establishment of a Regional Centre for the training of educational planners etc. It was decided to establish this centre in New Delhi. Accordingly it was set up in April, 1962 under contract with UNESCO, the expenditure being shared on a agreedbasis.
Its main functions are:
(i) to conduct research on problems connected with educational planning and administration and school supervision;
(ii) to conduct short-term courses for the training of educational planners, administrators and supervisors in Asia; and
(iii) to offer assistance to member States, upon request, through short missions of the Centre staff, either for the purpose of advising on educational planning and administration or for conducting training courses at the national level.
So far two training courses, as proposed, have been completed.
Seminars--(Plan provisions: Rs. 2.5 lakhs) A large number of practical problems concerning planning, publicity, teacher training, wastage etc. on primary education and girls' education are discussed in National and State seminars of high level state officers, organised each year. The Second National Seminar on primary education was held during the year. On account, of the national emergency, the seminars on girls' education proposed for 1962-63 have been cancelled.
The programme for 1963-64 has also been considerably curtailed as only a provision of Rs. 5,000 has been made.
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Production of Literature for Children (Plan provision: Rs. 15
lakhs) This scheme consists of 3 parts
(a) Preparation of books for children.
(b) Production of books for children and teachers on National Emotional Integration; and
(c) Sahitya Rachanalayas.
All these three schemes have now been kept in abeyance on account of the national emergency. The details of the first scheme have been worked out and it has not yet been taken up for implementation. In so far as the second scheme is concerned the report of the Emotional Integration Committee was being awaited to work out the details. As regards the third scheme, which is an old scheme for bringing together authors, writers and publishers for training in the preparation and production of children's books, in 1962-63, eight States were requested to organise the Rachanalayas. Of these four have been organised; replies have not been received from three States i.e., Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh and Punjab while Gujarat has postponed it. A Provision of Rs. 10,000 has also been made for organising a Rachanalaya of Artists in Delhi during 1963-64.
Gift of Printing Preses from West Germany Under UNESCO'S programme of assistance to member States in South East Asia for expansion of primary education, the Government of West Germany is making a gift of 3 printing presses, instead of the one originally agreed upon; the value of each printing press is of the order of 2.5 million DM. They are to be located at Mysore, Chandigarh, and in Orissa. There is a Plan provision of Rs. 10 lakhs for the purpose and a token budget provision Rs. 5,000 in 1963-64. As the cost of setting up of three presses has been estimated by the Ministry of W.H. & S. at Rs. 150 lakhs, the Planning Commission has been approached to allocate an additional, sum of Rs. 140 lakhs for the purpose from outside the Plan allotment. The Planning Commission has agreed to the additional allocation of Rs. 140 lakhs subject to its being accommodated within the Plan ceiling. The matter is still under negotiation with the Planning Commission as the Plan outlay of the Ministry cannot accommodate this.
The three presses are expected to be received in 1963-64.
Gift of Paper from Sweden Under UNESCO's assistance to member countries for expansion of primary education, the Govt. of Sweden has agreed to give 8,000 tons of paper (both cover paper and for inside printing) to enable the States to print and nationalise textbooks at the elementary stage. The first consignment of paper weighing 3.958 tons (of the cif value of about Rs. 35 lakhs) was received at Bombay on 9-2-1963. It was distributed to the State Governments of Jammu & Kashmir, Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra, Punjab, Rajasthan and C.C.P.&S., New Delhi. The entire expenditure, including the cost of paper and freight charges up to the port of disembarkation in India is met by the Government of Sweden while the . inland transportation and clearance charges up to place of delivery ate to be borne by the beneficiary States. The, second and third shipments of paper of the
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cif value of Rs. 35,000 approximately 4,000 tons is due in Madras on 4-4-1963 and in Calcutta at a later date in April, 1963. The Madras consignment is meant for the States of Andhra Pradesh Kerala, Madras and Mysore and the Calcutta consignment is meant for the States of Assam, Bihar, Orissa, U.P. and West Bengal.
Gift of Paper from Australia 2,000 tons of gift paper from Australia for 1961-62 were received in India and have already been distributed to all the State Govern- ments. A second consignment of 2,000 tons for 1962-63 is expected in 1963-64.
Publication of Research in Schools of Social Work Under this scheme the Tata Institute of Social Science has under- taken the preparation of synopses of researches in social work at the rate of Rs. 10 per synopsis. The total number of such researches accumulated has been estimated at 1,530 by the end of December, 1961. A provision of Rs. 5,000 was made in the budget for 1962-63 for the purpose of grants-in-aid. So far a sum of Rs. 3,210 has been paid to the Institute in two instalments of Rs. 2,610 and 600 respectively for preparing 321 synopses.
Centrally Sponsored Schemes of Mid-day Meals It has been decided that the States implementing this programme will get 1/3rd of the expenditure incurred by them as central assis- tance from 1962-63 onwards. The States of Assam, U.P., Punjab, Orissa, M.P., Andhra Pradesh, Madras, Kerala, Mysore. Jammu & Kashmir, and Rajasthan, and the Union Territories of Delhi, A. & N. Islands, Pondicherry, Himachal Pradesh, Tripura and NEFA are implementing this programme.
A target of providing school meals to 10 million children by the end of Third- Five Year Plan has been set. During 1962-63, the fol- lowing amounts were sanctioned to State Governments representing Government of India's share of 1/3rd of the total expenditure reported by the State Governments:
Rs.
1. Andhra Pradesh 1,12,343
2. Kerala 6,51,638
3. Rajasthan 66,666
4. Madras 30,19,513
5. Punjab. 52,310
Scheme of Assistance to Voluntary Educational Organisations in the
Field of Education of Girls and Women For expending girls education under this scheme, initiated in 1962-63, voluntary educational organisations are given assistance for developing the following types of activities:
(i) Projects of an experimental or educationally significant nature.
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(ii) Laboratories and libraries in Girls' middle and secondary schools and in training institutions for women primary teachers.
(iii) Hostels attached to middle, secondary and training institutions for women primary teachers.
Financial assistance is given on sharing basis. The grant-in-aid from the Central Government is at the following rates:
Recurring expenditure 75 per cent of the total expenditure.
Non-recurring expenditure 60 per cent of the total expenditure
provided the grant-in-aid for
buildings shall not exceed Rs.
45,000.
The expenditure on the scheme will be met from the Plan provision for the scheme of Assistance to Voluntary Educational Organisations. A grant of Rs. 40,500 has been released to five institutions during 1962-63.
Establishment of State Research Bureaux Plan Provision: Rs. 7.80 lakhs.
This centrally sponsored schemes is for improving educational administration by establishing and strengthening Research Bureaux or Centres in the Education Departments of the States, with assistance on 100 per cent basis subject to a maximum of Rs. 50,000 per Bureau. However, the scheme which was to be implemented from 1963-64.has been postponed in view of the present national emergency.
National Institute for Higher Training of Women Plan Provision: Rs. 20 lakhs.
The National Council for Women's Education appointed a Committee under the Chairmanship of Shrimati Indira Gandhi to work out details of a scheme for the higher training of women. The Committee has recommended that two multicourse Institutes-one in the North and the other in the South-may be set up The Government of India has decided that to begin with only one institute may be established in New Delhi.
The implementation of the scheme has been postponed in view of the recent emergency.
Training of Displaced Primary Teachers in West Bengal The scheme of training displaced primary teachers in West Bengal, which was transferred to this Ministry from the Ministry of Rehabilitation in April, 1961, has been completed this year. Under this scheme, 296 teachers have been trained. This Ministry has sanc- tioned a sum of Rs. 1,98,600 during 1961-62 and Rs. 1,30,000 during. 1962-63
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SECONDARY EDUCATION
State Bureaus of Educational and Vocational Guidance This scheme was formulated and circulated to the State Gov- ernments in February, 1962. It envisages the strengthening of exist- ing bureaus and the establishment of such bureaus in States where they do not exist. The scheme also provides for the appointment of Guidance Counsellors in schemes. Cent-per-cent Central assistance is given to the State Governments under this scheme. Proposals under the scheme have been sanctioned for the States of Assam, Kerala, Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra, Mysore, Orissa and Punjab. The proposals of Uttar Pradesh, Rajasthan, West Bengal and Gujarat are under consideration.
Establishment of Education Evaluation (Examination Reform Units) The Central Evaluation Unit, now a part of N.C.E.R.T. has done useful preliminary work in the field of examination reform. It was, however, felt that state Evaluation Units should be set up to carry the reform to schools. Accordingly, a scheme was formulated and forwarded to State Governments for the setting up of State Evaluation Units. Under the scheme 100 per cent financial assistance during the current plan has been offered to the State Governments. Sanctions to set up such units have so far been issued to the State Governments of Andhra Pradesh, Bihar, Gujarat, Kerala, Maharashtra, Mysore, Orissa, Punjab and Rajasthan.
Strengthening of Multipurpose Schools To diversify the content of secondary education, as recommended by the Secondary Education Commission, 2115 multipurpose schools were established in the country during the first and second plan periods. Under the third Plan, a higher priority has been assigned to the consolidation of work in the existing schools instead of.opening new schools in large numbers. A scheme for strengthening multipurpose education has been formulated. Under this scheme, the Central Government will give assistance to, the States to the extent of 50% of the expenditure which may be incurred on developing the schools to a high level of efficiency. 16 such schools will be selected in the States and 6 in the Union Territories. Proposals have been received from some States and Union Territories and grants will be sanctioned in 1963-64 when the implementation of the scheme commences. In addition, the N.C.E.R.T. has been requested to undertake on behalf of the Ministry a programme of preparation of textbooks, student's manuals and teachers' handbooks for practical subjects taught in multipurpose schools.
Scheme for Raising New N.C.C. Units in Residential Public, and
Central Schools There is a scheme in the Third Five Year Plan for opening of new N.C.C. Units in residential and public schools and also in schools to be opened by the Central Government for employees who are liable to transfer to various States. A total provision of Rs. 7.00 lakhs exists in the Plan. For the year 1962-63 there was a provision of Rs. 1.00 lakh but no amount has been spent out of this provision. 5 public schools have agreed to raise new N.C.C. troops during 1962-63. The central schools are being, established and fresh N.C. in these schools will be raised in 1963-64.
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Central Institute of English, Hyderabad The Central Institute of English, Hyderabad, was established by the Government of India, in co-operation with the Ford Foundation and the British Council, in November, 1958 to stem the falling standards of English in India especially at the secondary school stage. It was registered as a Society under the Public Societies Registration Act, 1860 and the general superintendence, direction and control of its affairs vests in a Governing Body which is autonomous in character.
An important part of the Institute's programme of work relates to the training of lecturers of training colleges and secondary school teachers, besides research work into the problems of teaching English language in this country and the preparation of suitable teaching materials.
There used to be two four-month courses during the year, each for a group of 60 traninees and so far six such sessions have been held. A Committee was set up by the Ministry of Education in February, 1961, to review the work and progress of the Institute. One of its main recommendations related to the starting of a nine month training course for key-personnel. A nine-month diploma course has accordingly been instituted at the Institute and the first course started on 10th July, 1962, with 55 trainees drawn from among the lecturers of training colleges, arts and science colleges, and secondary school teachers. Its advice is available to all State Governments in planning and implementing their programmes for the development of English teaching.
During the first 2 years of the Third Five Year Plan, a sum of Rs. 4,89,000 has been sanctioned towards the construction of the Institute's building which is being treated as a Plan item.
National Awards for Teachers The scheme instituted during 1958-59 with the object of raising the prestige of the teaching profession and giving public recognition to distinguished primary and secondary teachers is being continued during the Third Five Year Plan. Originally the number of Awards given in a year was 71. The present number is 85-45 for primary and 40 for secondary school teachers. The Awards are conferred annually by the President of India at a special functions organised by the Ministry of Education at New Delhi.
Assistance to Voluntary Educational Organisations Working in the
Field of Secondary Education The scheme, initiated during the First Plan to give grants to voluntary educational organisations during some educationally signi- ficant work to expand or improve their existing services or to start new ones, is being continued during the Third Five Year Plan. During the year 1961-62 a sum of Rs. 2,79,555 was sanctioned to 18 insti- tutions and during 1962-63 a sum of Rs. 76,778 has been sanctioned to 14 institutions in different parts of the country.
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Promotion of Gandhian Philosophy The scheme, instituted during the Second Five Year Plan, to incalculate a proper appreciation and knowledge of Gandhiji's life and thought among Indian students is being continued during the Third Five Year Plan. Kumari Manuben Gandhi has continued her lecture tours in- schools, and a set of selected Gandhian literature was presented to some institutions of higher learning in the country. The Ministry suggested to various universities in India to organise series of lectures on Gandhiji's life and thought and the expenditure to be incurred on the same was offered to be met by the Central Government. Such lectures were accordingly delivered during 1962-63 by the following persons in the university (universities) mentioned against each:
(i) Shri C. Rajagopalachari University of Poona
(ii) Shri U. N. Dhebar Annamalai University
(iii) Shri Kaka Saheb Kalelkar Nagpur University and Vallabhbbai
Vidya peeth
(iv) Dr. R. R. Diwakar Universities of Karnatak, Gujarat
and Kerala
(v) Shri Morarji Desai
(vi) Shri K. M. Munshi Sardar Vallabhbhai Vidyapeeth
(vii) Shri Manubhai Panchali
(viii) Acharya J. B. Kriplani Vikram, Punjab, S. N. D. T. Women's
and Calcutta Universities
(ix) Prof. H. T. Mazumdar Baroda University
(x) Prof. Humayun Kabir Andhra University
(xi) Shri P. N. Mathur Rajasthan University
(xii) Prof. N. K. Bose Jadavapur University