 ELEMENTARY EDUCATION

3.1 Operation Blackboard

This scheme is part of the child-centred approach to elementary education recommended by the National Policy on Education - 1986. The drive is phased to cover 20% community development blocks/municipal areas in 1987-88, 30% in 1988-89 and 50% in 1989-90. During 1987-88, 24 States and 3 UTs submitted their proposals to obtain Rs. 110.61 crores as Central assistance for a coverage of 1.13 lakh schools (21.1%) in the country.

During 1988-89, however, the constraint of funds is likely to reduce the coverage from planned 30% to about 20% only, and releases will be related to the pace of implementation of the first phase. As against the requirements of the 219.19 crores, only 130.00 crores have been provided in the current year's budget. States Level Empowered Committee meeting for the current year have been held in 6 States so far - Haryana, Mizoram, Andhra Pradesh, West Bengal, Karnataka and Tamil Nadu. An amount of Rs. 384.34 lakhs and Rs. 249.47 lakhs have been released as the first instalment for 1988-89 to West Bengal and Tamil Nadu respectively. Further Rs. 943.92 lakhs have been released to Bihar, Punjab, Karnatka and Tamil Nadu as continuing salary to teachers appointed for the first phase. Till date a total amount of 15.77 crores have been released. The proposals of Haryana, Mizoram and Andhra Pradesh amounting to Rs. 7.21 crores for the first instalment are under for sanction.

3.2 Non-formal Education

This scheme is now being implemented on a project basis with the project being roughly co terminus with a community development block and comprising about 100 NFE Centres. In 1987-88 proposals were received and sanctioned to 15 States/UTs and 104 Voluntary Agencies for running 1.94 lakh centres against a target of 2 lakh centres. The expenditure was Rs. 38.07 crores which exceeded the revised estimates by Rs. 4.07 crores.

As in the case of Operation Blackboard, the reduced budgetary provision of Rs. 49.05 crores against the projected requirement of Rs. 73 crores meant reduction in the target of 2650 projects by States/UTs and 100 projects by voluntary agencies. It has, therefore,been decided to priorities projectisation and consolidation and to sanction additional projects only to States where the revised pattern is fully and satisfactorily adopted. However, in respect of the NFE programme through the voluntary sector the pace set in 1987-88 will continue. An amount of Rs. 537.51 lakhs has been released to the Governments of Andhra Pradesh, Orissa, Mizoram, Uttar Pradesh and Dadra and Nagar Haveli. An amount of Rs. 208.06 lakhs has been released to voluntary agencies. The programme is being regularly reviewed and monitored. A computerised in 10 pilot districts.

3.3 Restructuring and Reorganisation of Teacher Education

Under the Mass Orientation Programme about 5 lakh teachers are expected to be covered during 1988-89. The programme will continue during 189-90 also.

Central assistance amounting to Rs. 32.47 crores was sanctioned during 1987-88 for 101 DIETs, colleges of teacher education and 7 Institutes of Advanced Studies in Education projects in 15 States and 1 Union Territory. Since some of the States could not spend the money during the last financial year, formal permission has been accorded to carry forward the unspent balances for utilisation during 1988-89.

The allocation for Teacher Education scheme in 1988-89 budget estimates i.e. Rs. 50 crores (against original outlay of 157 crores) is less than one-third of the projected requirement which necessitates the scaling down of central assistance for new projects than had been originally envisaged.

The UGC has been requested to work out details of strengthening University Departments of Education. The Ministry held a workshop on 'Educational Research in the Context Restructuring and Reorganisation of Teacher Education' at New Delhi on October 24-26, 1988. Its suggestions will be useful in improving university support to educational study.