PUBLIC EXPENDITURE ON EDUCATION DURING FIVE YEAR PLANS
An intra sectoral analysis of Plan expenditure on education sharply brings into focus three distinct period since planning began in 1951, with the plan holiday (1966- 69) and the year 1986-87 as two dividing lines (Table 6 and Chart I).
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Table 6 : Plan Expenditure on Different Sectors of
Education (Percentage)
Sector 1st 2nd 3rd Plan
Plan Plan Plan Holiday
Expdt. Exptd. Expdt. Expdt.
1951-56 1956-61 1961-66 1966-69
Elementary Education 56 35 34 24
(850) (950) (2010) (750)
Secondary Education 13 19 18 16
(200) (510) (1030) (530)
Adult Education
Higher Education 9 18 15 24
(140) (480) (870) (770)
Others 9 10 12 11
(140) (300) (730) (370)
Technical Education 13 18 21 25
(200) (490) (1250) (810)
Total 100 100 100 100
(1530) (2730) (5890) (3230)
4th 5th 6th 7th 1990-92 8th
Plan Plan Plan Plan Plan
Exptd. Expdt. Expdt. Expdt. Expdt. Outlay
1969-74 1974-79 1980-85 1985-90 1992-97
Elementary 30 35 33 37 37 47
Education (2390) (3170) (8360) (28490) (17290) (92010)
Secondary 18 17 21 24 22 18
Education (1400) (1560) (5300) (18320) (10530) (34980)
Adult
Education 9 6 9 9
(2240) (4700) (4160) (18480)
Higher
Education 25 22 22 16 12 8
(1950) (2050) (5590) (12010) (5880) (15160)
Others 14 14 4 3 2 4
(1060) (1070) (2730) (10830) (8230) (27860)
Technical
Education 13 12 11 14 17 14
(1060) (1070) (2730) (10830) (8230) (27860)
Total 100 100 100 100 100 100
(7860) (9120) (25300) (76330) (47270) (196000)
Note : Figures in parenthesis in millions of rupees
Source : Dr. R.V.Vaidyanatha Ayyar Educational Planning and
Administration in India : Retrospect and Prospect, journal
of Educational Planning and Administration, vol. VII,
Number 2, NIEPA, New Delhi.
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In the first phase (First Plan to Plan Holiday) higher and technical education received a higher intra sectoral priority compared to elementary education. Traditionally, universal elementary education was perceived as social consumption while skilled manpower supplied by higher and technical education was considered a critical factor of economic development which obviously contributed to the human capital formation. By the beginning of the IV Plan,.i.e., just after the Plan Holiday, with the realisation that the network of technical institutions created was sufficient to meet the anticipated manpower demands, investments in technical education were curtailed. At the same time universal elementary education was recognized as a minimum need programme for which more public resources were diverted for elementary education during the second phase extending from IV Five Year Plan to 1986 i.e. the beginning of the VII Five Year Plan. During the third phase (1987 onwards) with the introduction of NPE-1986 a sharp rise in the share of elementary education in total plan expenditure of education is being witnessed.