EXPLANATORY NOTE TO ITEM 5
 

1. Textbooks : The problem of utilizing textbooks for strengthening national integration has to be regarded as an integral part of a comprehensive programme of improving textbooks. The Ministry of Education has prepared a broad outline of such a programme and also proposes the establishment of a National Board of School Textbooks. The details are given in Appendix I. The Central Advisory Board of Education is requested to advise :

(i) on the establishment of a National Board of School Textbooks ; and

(ii) and the proposals made here generally for the improvement of textbooks.

2. Regional Imbalances : This problem was examined in detail by the Education Commission. Its recommendations are given in Appendix 11. The Central Advisory Board of Education is requested to advise regarding the manner in which regional imbalances in educational development should be reduced.

It may be pointed out here that the National Development Council has decided, amongst other things, to distribute 10 per cent of the Central assistance to those economically backward States where the national income per head of population is below the national average. This will be a major step in reducing the regional imbalances of all categories.

3. Common School System : The National Integration Council has suggested the adoption of the common school system. This recommendation has also been incorporated in the Government Resolution on the National Policy on Education. The following positive steps have been commended to achieve this goal :-

(i) The standard of education in the general schools should be improved. This will involve special attention to rural and other backward areas and

(ii) As for special schools which maintain good standards but charge high fees are concerned, steps should be taken to eliminate the segregation that now takes place by providing that a certain proportion of students in these schools, selected on the basis of merit, should be admitted as free scholars.

It is suggested that each State should examine and adopt measures, suited to its own local conditions, to give effect to these proposals.

4. Domicile Certificate : The recommendation that students should, not be required to produce a domicile certificate is extremely important and it is necessary to bring it into effect in all parts of the country simultaneously say by June 1969.

In actual practice, it affects the admissions to engineering and medical colleges only. The present position regarding this is given in Appendix 111.

5. Visits by Groups of Students to Different Parts of the Country : This is an important recommendation. The Ministry of Education has proposed a scheme to implement it in the Fourth Plan (Appendix IV). The advice of the Central Advisory Board of Education is sought on the details of the proposal.

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