HUNDRED AND THIRTY-FOURTH REPORT OF THE PUBLIC ACCOUNTS COMMITTEE (1987-88) - EIGHTH LOK SABHA : EXTRACTS OF RECOMMENDATIONS CONCERNING UNIVERSAL ELEMENTARY EDUCATION IN THE AGE GROUP OF 6-14.
"The target for universalisation of elementary education in the age group 6-14 is to be achieved by 1995 and by then the estimated population in this age group would be 16.03 crores. Increasing this figure by 10% to arrive at the estimated enrolment population "we would have 17.63 crores of children to reckon with". ..........
"The Committee hope that the Government would take up the implementation of the policy, plan and programme for universal primary education as a challenge and take steps to ensure that all the States take up this scheme with enthusiasm in order to achieve the prescribed targets within the time bound programme. The Government should also ensure that necessary funds are provided to the State Government expeditiously so that the implementation of the scheme is not affected and the objective of the provisions of constitutional directive for ensuring free and compulsory education for all children till they attain the age of 14 is achieved. It is imperative that the implementation of the scheme is ensured through annual planning starting from the year 1988-89 itself so that the estimated population of 17.63 crore children in t he age group 6-14 is covered by 1995. To achieve this, sustained and sincere efforts and regular monitoring at an appropriately higher level is required
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both at the level of the States and Centre. The Committee would like to be apprised of steps taken in this direction......
"Steps should be taken to improve physical conditions of schools and they should be located in reasonably modest buildings. As far as possible the schools should also be within the walking distance of the students. It would be desirable to attract more and more students by giving various types of incentives. The Committee. in this connection appreciate the incentives of the uniforms, mid-day meals, shoes, books etc. provided by certain States and would like the Government to initiate introduction of similar measures all over the country................
"The States were uncertain about the continuance of the Central assistance. (for Non-Formal Education Scheme) The Education Secretary has also admitted during evidence that the States are reluctant to utilise the funds provided by the Centre because they are not sure about the duration for which Central assistance would be available....................
"It is disquieting to note that neither the Ministry nor the Planning Commission ever thought of preparing a perspective plan for education. Universal elementary education being a subject of national importance, it is imperative that long term understanding should be available to the States and the Central Government as to the sharing of funding responsibility for this gigantic task and it should have been possible to have a planning on a fairly long term basis. Since
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the New Education Policy envisages to provide free and compulsory education to all children upto 14 years of age by the year 1995, the Committee recommend that while assuring the States/Union Territories regarding continuance of the Central assistance for Non-Formal Education Programme, the Government should formulate a long term plan with a view to achieving this objective within the stipulated time."
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