 RECOMMENDATIONS

Constitutional Provisions

4.1 The Committee in its deliberations has been guided by the provisions of the Seventy third, and the Seventy-fourth Constitutional Amendment Acts, the National Policy on Education and Programme of Action (1992). The recommendations of the Committee are in the nature of guidelines, which maybe considered as comprehensive though not exhaustive. The States may after due consultations and deliberations choose a pattern and system suited to their needs and keeping in view the spirit of the Constitutional amendments and need to foster people's participation if educational goals are to be achieved. While the states which are delegating powers to the institutions of local self-government for the first time may prefer to proceed cautiously, those States which have already gained expriences in this sphere may decide to improve on these proposals and give higher levels of responsibilities to Panchayati Raj/Municipal bodies.

4.2 The Constitution makes a mandatory provision for establishment of Panchayats at the village, intermediate and district levels in each state. Keeping in view the three-tier structure (States with population below 20 lakhs need not have the intermediate tier) these proposals envisage delegation of responsibilities of educational management to the Panchayats, Panchayat Samitis and Zilla Parishads. A summary of the Committee's recommendations in this regard is presented in respect of (a) Panchayats where jurisdiction is limited to one village, (b) Panchayats where jurisdiction extends to a group of villages, (c) Panchayat Samitis (intermediate level) and (d) Zilla Parishads (district level), in Statements IA, IB, II and III, respectively. Detailed description of the recommendations is contained in the subsequent paragraphs of this chapter.

Panchayat Level

4.3 For the purpose of defining the jurisdiction of the Panchayat, the village is to be specified by the Governor by a public notification, and may include a group of villages so specified. A Panchayat area means a territorial area of a Panchayat. This implies that Panchayats at the Village level may comprise a village or a group of villages.

4.4 The Programme of Action approved by the CABE attaches considerable importance to Village Education Committees (VECs). The village normally represents a cohesive community and is ideally suited for promoting programmes, involving support of the community, such as, Early Childhood Care and Education, Primary Education, Non-formal Education and Adult Education. VEC may be considered the ideal organisation to mobilise and involve people in the educational efforts.

Panchayat Standing Committee on Education

4.5 The Education Committee at the Panchayat level where the panchayat comprises only one village can be named as the Panchayat Standing Committee on Education (PEC). It can be given statutory authority by bringing it under the Panchayati Raj legislation. The tenure of this Committee will be the same as the tenure of the Panchayat.

Composition

4.6 The Panchayat Standing Committee on Education may consist of not less than 7 and not more than 15 members. It may be headed by the Chairman of the Panchayat. At least one third of its members should be women. One member each representing Scheduled Castes, Scheduled Tribes, backward classes and minorities should also be on the Committee. A parent representative of the Parent-Teacher Association, the Anganwadi worker and an educationist or a person interested in education from the villages may also be members of the Committee. Those members of the committee who are not elected members of the Panchayat may be nominated by the Panchayat. The Member- Secretary of the Committee will be the Headmaster of a Panchayati Raj Primary or Upper Primary School in the village and will be nominated by the Panchayat.

Role

4.7 The role of the Panchayat Standing Committee on Education may include generation and sustenance of awareness among village community ensuring participation of all segments of population, developing teacher and community partnership to oversee and manage the effective and regular functioning of the schools and centres. It should be endeavour of this Committee that every child in every family participates in primary education.

4.8 The Committee will exercise supervision over early childhood care and education, non-formal education, primary education and adult education programmes in its jurisdiction. It will also exercise supervision over composite upper primary schools under delegation of powers from the Panchayat Samiti.

Functions

4.9 The Panchayat Standing Committee on Education will be required to visit institutions and centres periodically and promote enrolment drives. Pursuading parents of non-attending children to send their wards to schools and enthusing adults for literacy programmes may form a significant agenda for its activities.

4.10 Steps to promote attendance and prevent drop-outs in the various educational programmes may also be one of the responsibilities of this Committee. It may also undertake supportive measures and services for retention of students and will assist in the smooth functioning of the primary schools, composite upper primary schools and other institutions. It should be the Committee's endeavour to encourage and support the teachers in their tasks. It may provide essential facilities like drinking water, urinals, play grounds, etc. in the schools. The Committee will present periodical reports and propoals to Panchayat Samiti on development of education and will assess progress of the programmes in their territorial jurisdiction. It may meet as many times as required but not less than once in a quarter.

Powers

4.11 The Panchayat Standing Committee on Education will have the authority to visit educational institutions and centres providing early childhood care and education, non-formal education, primary education and adult education and will check attendance and other registers. It would also have the authority to enquire and report to the concerned authorities on educational deficiencies and requirements of the village. The Committee would recommend the annual budget of the Panchayati Raj schools to the concerned authorities. It may

report on irregularities of the attendance of students and teachers and functioning of the schools. It will prepare the school calender indicating working days, holidays and vacation under the guidance of the Zilla Parishad.

Funds

4.12 The Committee will depend largely upon funds provided by the Zilla Parishad and Panchayat Samiti for various programmes to be undertaken in the village. It may also receive earmarked funds for specific programmes provided by concerned agencies of the State Government. The Committee may also raise funds locally from the parents and public.

Coordination

4.13 It will be desirable for VECs to hold joint meetings with similar bodies in the field of health and other subjects to seek their support in pursuance of its activities.

Administrative Support

4.14 The Village Education Committee will function largely on the basis of the staff support provided by the Headmaster, staff and teachers in the Panchayati Raj schools and other educational programmes.

Training

4.15 The members of Village Education Committees would require orientation and training for discharging their functions effectively. The Headmasters may have to be given a special orientation to enable them to assist the Village Education Committees in their activities.

Village Education Committee as Sub-Committee of Panchayat

4.16 Where the Panchayat comprises more than one village, it may establish Village Education Committee (VEC) as the sub-Committee of the Panchayat for each village. It will have statutory authority as they will be established by the Panchayats tinder the powers conferred upon them by the State Panchayati Raj legislation. The Panchayat may be empowered statutorily to delegate powers to these committees.

Composition

4.17 The Village Education Committee may be presided over by the President of the Panchayat where he is elected from the village. In other villages a member of the Panchayat representing the village concerned may preside over the VEC. The number of members of the VEC may be the same as provided for the Panchayat Standing Committee on Education. The composition of the Committee may also be the same, except that all the members must be drawn from the village.

4.18 The rest of the features of the Panchayat Standing Committee will also apply to the VECs (Sub-committees).

Panchayat Samiti

4.19 The Panchayat Samiti will be the Panchayati Raj body at the intermediate level in terms of the Constitutional amendment.

Panchayat Samiti Standing Committee on Education

4.20 The Panchayat Samiti may set up a Panchayat Samiti Standing Committee on Education (PSEC) for management of educational programmes in their territorial jurisdiction. This Committee will have the statutory recognition under the Panchayati Raj legislation and will have the same tenure as the Panchayat Samiti.

Composition

4.21 The Panchayat Samiti Standing Committee on Education may be headed by the Chairman of the Panchayat Samiti. The Committee may consist of not less than 11 and not more than 17 members with atleast one-third of the members being women. One member each representing the Scheduled Castes, Scheduled Tribes, backward classes and minority communities should be on the Committee.

4.22 A parent from the Parent-Teacher Association may also be on the Committee. Atleast two representatives of the Panchayat Standing Committees on Education/Village Education Committees may be nominated by rotation. A Principal of a degree/pre-degree college, Headmaster of a school complex/secondary school and a representative of teachers may also be on the Committee. The Member-Secretary of the Committee will be the block level Education Officer. The non-elected members of the Committee may be nominated by the Panchayat Samiti.

Role

4.23 The Panchayat Samiti Standing Committee on Education will be responsible for management of adult education, non-formal education, early childhood care and education and schools of the Panchayati Raj bodies upto upper primary level, under the overall supervision of the Zilla Parishad.

4.24 All existing government schools upto upper primary level with their staff will come under the control of Panchayat Samitis and schools in the state sector will in future be established only by the Panchayat Samitis. The Committee will also have supervisory power over aided upper primary schools and will channel grant to them under the guidance of Zilla Parishad. In this regard, the Committee will function in the same manner as the present departmental set-up at this level.

4.25 The Panchayat Samiti Standing Committee on Education will undertake academic supervision of all the educational institutions upto upper primary level including the private schools in its jurisdiction.

4.26 The Education Committee at this level will endeavour to promote school complexes in its jurisdiction. The Committee will periodically review progress of education in its area and actively pursue the programmes of total adult literacy and universalisation of elementary education.

Functions

4.27 The Committee will exercise control over all Panchayati Raj educational institutions upto upper primary level. Academic supervision of all the schools upto upper primary level, including private schools, will be one of its important functions. The Committee will be responsible for preparation of plans for development of education upto upper primary level in its jurisdiction and for their implementation. It will also prepare educational budget of the Panchayat Samiti and approve expenditure to be incurred. The Committee will coordinate with other bodies for social service programmes for mutual support.

Powers

4.28 The Panchayat Samiti Standing Committee on Education will exercise control over the staff in the government schools transferred to Panchayat Samiti including payment of salaries. It will appoint staff to schools under its control from the panel of names given by the appropriate body and transfer them within its jurisdiction subject to guide lines provided by the Zilla Parishad/Government. The Committee will be responsible for channelising grants to aided schools under the supervision of Zilla Parishad. It will have powers of academic supervision of all educational programmes in its jurisdiction upto upper primary level. The Committee will prepare the educational budget and plans of the Panchayat Samiti and sanction expenditure from the approved budget. It may raise its resources by levying development fees and other fees as well as by public contributions and donations. The Committee may propose measures to Panchayat Samiti and Zilla Parishad for mobilisation of additional resources. It may delegate its power of supervision over composite upper primary schools to the Panchayat Standing Committee on Education/Village Education Committee.

Funds

4.29 The Committee will receive grants from the Zilla Parishad and under various schemes for implementing different educational programmes in its jurisdiction. It may also receive earmarked funds from different agencies, voluntary donations and endowments and may raise funds on its own through the powers of taxation.

Organizational Support

4.30 The services of the staff of the education department at this level will be placed with the Panchayat Samiti. However, its control over the staff will be subject to guidelines laid down by the State Government and the academic norms adopted by the Panchayat Samiti Standing Committee on Education will be subject to over-all instructions issued by the department of education of the state.

4.31 The members of the Panchayat Samiti Standing Committee on Education will require orientation to prepare themselves for the effective discharge of the assigned tasks. They would also require to establish close rapport with officials at different levels and the state-level leadership for guidance in their work. The non-elected members of the Committee also will require orientation to enable them to work in harmony with others. Training for the officials and volunteers for effective implementation of various programmes may also be necessary.

Zilla Parishad Level

4.32 According to the Act, the Zilla Parishad will cover an entire district excluding municipal areas.

Zilla Parishad Standing Committee on Education

4.33 The Zilla Parishad may set up its Standing Committee on Education as a statutory body under the Panchayati Raj legislation for the management of educational institutions in its jurisdiction. The tenure of the Standing Committee will correspond with the tenure of the Zilla Parishad.

Composition

4.34 The Standing Committee may be headed by the Chairman of the Zilla Parishad. The Committee may consist of not less than 15 and not more than 21 members with atleast one-third members being women. These should include representatives of Scheduled Castes, Scheduled Tribes, backward classes and minorities. A parent from the Parent- Teacher Associations and one representative each of NGOs and teachers may also be on the Committee. Atleast two representatives of the Education Committees at Panchayat/Village level and Panchayat Samiti level may also be nominated to the Committee by rotation. A Principal of a College, a Professor of Education of a University or a College teacher, Principal of DIET and Headmaster of a School Complex or Secondary School may also be on the Committee. The Chief Education Officer of the Zilla Parishad may be the Member- Secretary of the Committee. The power of nomination of non-elected members will rest with Zilla Parishad.

Role

4.35 The role of the Zilla Parishad Standing Committee on Education will be the overall management and supervision of all educational programmes in the district upto secondary level. The Committee will prepare and implement plans for development of education upto secondary level in the entire district. It will review the progress of education upto secondary level in the district and will also have the specific responsibility for formulation and operationalisation of programmes to achieve total literacy and universal elementary edu- cation.