SECONDARY AND HIGHER SECONDARY EDUCATION
Education being a state subject each State is free to have its own system of education. Although the Education Commission (1966) recommended the uniform pattern of 10+2 years of schooling as far back as 1966 the States have taken their own time to arrive at a consensus. Consequently there is no single pattern followed in this regard. In some states classes VIII-X constitute high school, in some others IX and X, in yet others IX-XI. On the other hand, in some states there is one year PUC, in some cases IX-XI higher secondary, in some others XI and XII as either intermediate or Junior College. While the institutions could be classified into high school and higher second- ary/intermediate/PUC and Junior College apportioning of class-wise enrolment in high schools and higher secondary schools and allied stages by classes was difficult. In order to overcome this problem, the educational facilities have been discussed here for high and higher secondary stages while the enrolment has been discussed class-wise by pooling class-wise enrolment of classes IX, X and XI of both high and higher secondary schools and allied institutions.
At the time of this survey only Madhya Pradesh among the States and Union Territories of A & N Islands, Arunachal Pradesh and Delhi did not have high schools while in the State of Nagaland and the Union Territories of Dadra and Nagar Haveli, Goa, Daman and Diu and Mizoram did not have higher secondary schools. In some states even though high school pattern is followed some central schools located in them are following higher secondary pattern.
Information in respect of high and higher secondary schools and intermediate colleges in the Second Survey had been collected and tabulated together both in respect of facilities as well as enrolment. But in the present survey information in respect of facilities is available separately for high schools and higher secondary schools. The Second Survey did not take into consideration PUC classes and hence the enrolment in PUC classes has not been covered whereas in the Third Survey all academic institutions up to the pre-degree classes have been covered. Hence neither educational facilities nor the enrolment figures would be comparable.
Further during the Second Survey the unit of measurement of distance was mile while in the Third Survey it is kilometre. Hence distance-wise facilities are also not comparable. In the Third Survey the distance criteria considered for the secondary stage is 5 km against 5 miles in the Second Survey.
Secondary schooling facilities in rural areas The First All India Educational Survey conducted in 1957 had suggested location of a secondary school in all the habitations with a population of 5,000 or more. According to the distance criteria applied therein, habitations within a radius of 5 miles were included in the school area. But the Education Commission (1964-66) brought into focus the factor of economic viability in locating an institution and established a working rule to establish a secondary school serving a radius of 5 to 7 miles with a population coverage of 10,000 to 15,000 and to provide transport and/or hostel facilities to pupils who have to cover longer distances in order to have access to the school.
Findings of the first and second surveys At the time of the First Survey in 1957, 3,01,533 habitations (35.90%) were served by secondary sections including 4,500 habitations (0.54%) having secondary
SECONDARY AND HIGHER SECONDARY EDUCATION 49
sections in them. In the Second Survey in 1965, it is obrseved that 6,01,154 habitations (61.2%) were served by secondary sections including 16,231 habitations (1.65%) having secondary sections in them. Of course while considering the existance of secondary sections serving the pupils the distance considered was up to 5 miles.
Present position In 24,049 (2.85%) habitations there are secondary sections. Unlike the First Survey where the main task was to plan the location of schools, the Second Survey aimed at drawing district development plans for education which would broadly cover the future location of schools with certain amount of flexibility. Hence there was no rigidity in the location of secondary schools particularly in view of the Education Commission's (1966) recommendations.
From the following statement it is observed that 4,56,165 (54.15%) of the habitations with a population of 28,34,04,365 (66.34%) are served by secondary sections within a walking distance of 5 km.
STATEMENT 38
Distribution of habitations and population in rural areas according to secondary schooling
facilities available at varying distances
Number of Percentage Population Percentage
habitations
1 2 3 4 5
In the habitation 24,049 2.85 5,83,99,577 13.67
0.1 to 1.0 km 49,495 5.87 2,70,76,714 6.34
1.1 to 2.0 km 84,461 10.03 4,58,76,003 10.74
2.1 to 3.0 km 1,10,667 13.14 5,94,84,948 13.92
3.1 to 4.0 km 93,510 11.10 4,74,60,820 11.11
4.1 to 5.0 km 93,983 11.16 4,51,06,303 10.56
Within the habitation or up to a
walking distance of 5 km 4,56,165 54.15 28,34,04,365 66.34
More than 5 km 3,86,230 45.85 14,37,84,323 33.66
TOTAL 8,42,395 100.00 42,71,88,688 100.00
Except in the case of habitations having secondary sections in them, other figures in respect of the extent of facilities are not comparable since in the Second Survey the distance kept was in terms of miles whereas in the Third Survey it is in kilometres. However, with regard to the number of secondary sections located within the habitation as also the population covered, it is observed that while in the Second Survey 16,231 (1.65%) habitations with a population of 3,60,53,511 (9.09%) were served by secondary sections located in them, in this survey 24,049 (2.85%) habitations with a population of 5,83,99,577 (13.67%) have secondary sections in them.
While considering the facilities for secondary education in habitations under various population slabs it is observed that out of 3,745 habitations having population of 5,000 or more 3,437 (91.78%), including 2,482 (66.28%) habitations with secondary sections located in them, cover 92.32% in this population slab up to a distance of 5 km. Although a comparison is not possible with the figures of the Second Survey it is observed that while 94.05% habitations covering a population of 94.55% in this population slab had secondary education facilities up to a distance of 5 miles the actual achievement figures are not very high as compared to the present survey. The percentage of habitations having secondary sections in them was slightly more, i.e., 66.65, as compared to the present survey which is 66.28.
In the population slab '2000-4999' there are 28,484 habitations. Of these, 8,539 (29.98%) habitations have secondary sections in them while 22,507 (79.02%) habitations have secondary education facilities within a walking distance of 5 km including those habitations
50 THIRD ALL-INDIA EDUCATIONAL SURVEY
STATEMENT 39
Habitations and population in rural areas in various population slabs served by secondary sections in
them or within a walking distance of 5 km
Population slab Total
Sl. Item of Information 5000 2000- 1000- 500- Below
NO. and above 4999 1999 999 500
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8
1. Number of habitations 3,745 28,484 76,518 1,49,780 5,83,868 8,42,395
2. Habitations served by secondary
sections in them 2,482 8,539 6,356 3,601 3,071 24,049
3. Item 2 as percentage of item 1 66.28 29.98 8.31 2.40 0.53 2.85
4. Habitations served by secondary
sections in them or within a
walking distance of 5 km 3,437 22,507 51,508 91,925 2,86,788 4,56,165
5. Item 4 as percentage of item 1 91.78 79.02 67.31 61.37 49.12 54.15
6. Percentage of population served
by secondary sections in their
own habitations or within a walking
distance of 5 km 92.32 80.83 67.40 62.33 52.61 66.34
which have a school in them. About 80.83% of the population is covered by the facility in this population slab.
There are 76,518 habitations in population slab '1000-1999'. Here 6,356 (8.31%) habitations have secondary sections in them while overall 51,508 (67.31%) habitations have these facilities with in a walking distance of 5 km which covers 67.40% population in the slab.
In the population slab '500-999' there are 1,49,780 habitations of which 3,601 (2.40%) have secondary sections in-them and altogether 91,925 (61.37%), have secondary education facilities up to a walking distance of 5 km covering 62.33% population in the slab group.
The remaining 5,83,868 habitations are scattered in the population slab 'below 500.' In this category 3,071 (0.53%) habitations have a secondary section in them
STATEMENT 40
Habitations in rural areas not served by secondary sections either in them or within a walking distance of 5 km
Col. 3 as percentage of habitations
Population slab Number of habita- Number of habitations In the Not served by habita- In the rural
tions in the slab not served by sec. sec- slab tions in them or within areas in the
tions in them or within (Col. 3/ a walking distance of country (Col.
5 km Col. 2) 5 km (Col 3/total 3/ total of
under Col. 3) Col. 2)
1 2 3 4 5 6
5000 and above 3,745 308 8.22 0.08 0.04
2000 - 4999 28,484 5,977 20.98 1.55 0.71
1000 - 1999 76,518 25,010 32.68 6.48 2.97
500 - 999 1,49,780 57,855 38.63 14.98 6.87
Below 500 5,83,868 2,97,080 50.88 76.91 35.27
All Slabs 8,42,395 3,86,230 45.85 100.00 45.85
SECONDARY AND HIGHER SECONDARY EDUCATION 51
STATEMENT 41
Population in rural areas not served by secondary sections either in their own habitations
or within a walking distance of 5 km
Col. 3 as percentage of population
Population Slab Population of habi- Population of the habita- In the Not served by sec. In the rural
tations in the slab tions in the slab not slab sections in them or areas in the
served by a sec. section (Col. 3/ within 5 km (Col. country (Col.
either in them or within Col. 2) 3/total of Col. 3) 3/total of
5 km Col. 2)
1 2 3 4 5 6
5000 and above 2,74,85,363 21,10,750 7.68 1.47 0.49
2000 - 4999 7,96,13,755 1,52,65,291 19.17 10.61 3.57
1000 - 1999 10,30,13,971 3,35,83,006 32.60 23.36 7.86
500 - 999 10,33,00,169 3,89,08,143 37.67 27.06 9.11
Below 500 11,37,75,430 5,39,17,129 47.39 37.50 12.62
All Slabs 42,71,88,688 14,37,84,323 33.66 100.00 33.66
while 2,86,788 (49.12%), including the preceding ones, covering a population of 52.61% in the slab have schooling facilities within a walking distance of 5 km.
The number of habitations not served by a secondary section in the population slab of '5000 and above' is very small, constituting a negligible proportion (0.08%). Only 8.03% habitations in the population slab '1000-4999' do not have secondary education facility within a walking distance of 5 km. Thus around 92.00% habitations in the population slab 'below 1000' are not served by secondary schools. But the provision of secondary schools in these areas will have to be viewed from the angle of economic viability and according to the criteria laid down by the Education Commission (1966).
Considering the population in the various slabs having no facilities for secondary education either located therein or within a walking distance of 5 km, it is observed around 7.68% population in the habitations with '5,000 and above' population do not have secondary sections in them and 1.47% population in such habitations do not have secondary schooling facilities either in them or within a walking distance of 5 km. Further as the population slab narrows down, the population of the habitations in the groups goes on widening as could only be expected. Overall, at the secondary stage as a large proportion of the population is not covered by such facilities the issue needs to be examined in the wider perspective of educational policy.
The range of population served by secondary sections either in the habitations or within a walking distance of 5 km is very wide between the stages. It is 20.88% in Meghalaya on the one hand and 87.80% in Kerala on the other. The percentage is also low in respect of states like Nagaland and Tripura. It is worthwhile to examine the position in each State and Union Territory.
Andhra Pradesh : In the First Survey 18,225 habitations covering a population of 35.93% were served by secondary sections either within the habitation or within a walking distance of 5 miles while in the Second Survey 34,670 (64.38%) covering a rural population of 73.52%, had access to secondary education facilities including 1,595 habitations having such facilities in them. In the Third Survey, however, distance criteria has considerably altered the position although the facilities have increased. There are 25,271 (47.56%) rural habitations covering 62.30% of the rural population having access to secondary schooling facility including 2,243 habitations having this facility in them. This covers 18.07% of the rural population as against 16.63% in the Second Survey.
Assam : Since the First and the Second surveys the state has undergone considerable topographical change in that we State of Meghalaya and Union Administration of Mizoram have been carved out of this State. During the First Survey 11,549 (45.22%) habitations were served by secondary sections including 285 located in their own habitations. At the time of