REPORT OF THE HIGH LEVEL COMMITTEE TO REVIEW THE EDUCATIONAL STATISTICS SYSTEM IN INDIA, SEPTEMBER,1982

 INTRODUCTION

1.1 In pursuance of the recommendations made by the Eighth All India Conference on Educational Statistics held in Udaipur in September, 1980 which were accepted by the Standing Committee on Educational Statistics at its seventh meeting held on 30-12-80, a High Level Committee was constituted in 1981 vide Ministry of Education's Gazette Notification No. F. 10-1/81-Stat. dated the 20th February, 1981 for reviewing the entire educational statistical system in the country. The terms of reference of the Committee were:-

(i) To prepare a perspective plan for the improvement of the educational statistics and their utilisation in policy making, planning and administration at all levels.

(ii) To propose the methodology for collecting data, on various items and to spell out the role of different agencies involved in data collection so that duplication of efforts is avoided and the relevant data are made available with minimum of resource.

(iii) To suggest the type of schedules to be used for data collection from primary sources and the records to be maintained at different levels so as to help in efficient collection of information.

(iv) To propose measures for improving the quality and timely presentation of data.

(v) To suggest the changes in the infrastructure at the Central and State levels and the norms for staff, etc., in order to bring about the above improvements.

(vi) To suggest training and orientation programmes at all levels for ensuring proper collection and use of data.

(vii) To suggest short-term measures for improving the existing system on the basis of the discussions held with the high officials by personal visits of members of the Committee to some of the States.

1.2 The composition of the Committee was as under:

CHAIRMAN

Shri S. Ramamoorthi, Joint Secretary, Ministry of Education and Culture, Government of India, New Delhi.

MEMBERS

Prof. P. K. Bose, formerly Pro-Vice Chancellor for Academic Affairs, Calcutta University, Calcutta.

Dr. M. B. Buch (Retd.), Ex Head, Department of Education, M.S. University of Baroda, Baroda.

Dr. K. C. Seal, Director-General, Central Statistical Organisation and Ex-Officio Addl. Secretary, Deptt. of Statistics, New Delhi.

Dr. S. N. Saraf,* Adviser (Education), Planning Commission, New Delhi.

*Now left the concerned organisation since retirement.

*Shri M. C. Dubey, Deputy Advisor (Education) Planning Commission participated in the meeting.

Shri J. Veeraraghavan, Executive Director, National Institute of Educational Planning & Administration, New. Delhi.

Dr. A. B. L. Srivastava, Prof. & Head, Survey and Data Processing Unit, National Council of Educational Research & Training, New Delhi.

Shri R. K. Chhabra, Secretary, University Grants Commission, New Delhi.

Shri S. N. Mehrotra, Vice-Chancellor, Agra University, Agra.

Shri K. D. Bhatia, Director, Bureau of Economics & Statistics, Delhi Administration, Delhi.

*Shri N. D. Qureshi,/Shri S. A. Laharwal, Education Secretary, Government of Jammu & Kashmir.

*Shri G. K. Arora,/Shri R. C. Tripathi, Education Secretary, Government of Uttar Pradesh.

Shri P. K. Umashankar, Commissioner and Special Secretary, Education Department, Government of Kerala.

*Since transferred from the Education Department.

MEMBER SECRETARY

Shri S. C. Seddey, Deputy Director, (Stat.), Ministry of Education & Culture, Government of India, New Delhi.

1.3 In its first meeting, the High Level Committee, opted for the Working Group methodology to consider in depth the several issues of educational statistics. Two separate

Working Groups (A) and (B) were set up one to deal with all aspects at the pre-collection stage and other with the post-collection issues such as problems of organisation, machinery, training, computerisation, etc. The Committee drew up the terms of reference of the two Working Groups as given at Annexure-III. The Committee also decided to associate more representatives from various other user organisations and State Departments in these deliberations and made suitable nominations to the Working Groups accordingly.

1.4 The Committee also decided to depute teams of its members to visit a few States for studying. their planning, monitoring and statistical system with a view to identifying the good features as well as deficiencies obtaining in the system of collection of educational statistics. A detailed questionnaire was prepared for the purpose. Accordingly, the Ministry deputed teams of members of High Level Committee to visit the States of Karnataka, West Bengal, Jammu and Kashmir and Uttar Pradesh. Visits to these States were found to be quite useful in giving the members a good idea about the field conditions and helped in formulating suitable recommendations for improving the existing system of collection of educational statistics at State level and lower levels viz. District and Block level. The Committee visited the Statistical Unit of the Planning and Statistical Division of the Ministry and also the Directorate of Adult Education.

1.5 The Committee also decided to circulate a questionnaire to the important user organisations of educational data viz. Planning Commission. National Council of Educational Research and Training (N.C.E.R.T..), University Grants Commission (U.G.C.), National Institute of Educational Planning and Administration (NIEPA), Ins

titute of Applied Manpower Research (IAMR), Department of Science and Technology (DST) and the various divisions of the Ministry with a view to identifying the existing major data gaps keeping in view their needs. A Copy of the questionnaire is given at Annexure IV.