The State Education Departments should be well equipped to conduct such studies from time to time. This type of work could also be entrusted to the State Institutes of Education and SCERTs. Depending on the type of data to be collected, the Statistical Units could also be given the responsibility for conducting them.

5.21 To sum up, the Committee suggests that the following four types of programmes should operate for collecting educational data:-

1. Annual Census of Schools to collect some basic data on Schools, Students and Teachers;

2. All India Educational Surveys conducted once in 5 years to collect comprehensive data on the existing educational systems;

3. Periodical Sample Surveys to collect data on such educational variables which cannot be easily covered in the Annual Census and on which data are. frequently needed for educational planning and administration purposes;

4. Theme-Oriented Sample Studies to collect data on specific problems confronting the educational system;

The data collection system should be so re-organised that all the above four types of data collection programmes can be efficiently undertaken in all the States.

Collection of Statistics for Higher Education

5.22 At present the data from universities and other institutions of higher education are being collected both by the UGC and the Ministry of Education through State Departments of Education. Although there is some difference in the items covered and also in respect of the date

of reference, there is considerable, duplication in the data that are collected by these two agencies. Recommendations have already been made by some earlier Committees and Conferences on educational statistics about the need for avoiding the duplication of work. A Working Group was set up by the University Grants Commission to look into the problem and to examine in detail the procedure of collecting data from the universities and other institutions of higher education. This working group has submitted its report and action is being taken to implement the recommendations made by it.

5.23 The Committee noted that the State Education Departments have experienced difficulty in collecting data from the universities and colleges and this has often caused delay in submission of educational statistics of the State to the Ministry of Education. The Committee is of the view that in future the University Grants Commission should assume full responsibility for collecting data from the universities and affiliated Colleges and they should provide copies of Institutional Returns and compiled data for the States in an appropriate form to all the State Governments for their use and also to the Ministry of Education. The State Education Departments may, however, continue to collect data from the institutions directly for their needs, as necessary. Regarding the programme of transfer of work from Ministry of Education to UGC, the Committee understands that the Working Group of the UGC has since submitted its report and that this report has been accepted by the Commission. It may, however, take some time before the work is taken over by the UGC has since submitted its report and that this reseries, the Committee recommends the Ministry should continue to collect data, say for a period of 2-3 years, So far as the non-affiliated institutions are concerned, it

was noted that the UGC may not be in a position to assume the responsibility of collecting data from them. For these institutions, the Ministry of Education should continue to collect the data. But the source of data including non-affiliated courses in respect of affiliated institutions would be the University Grants Commission.

5.24 The Committee noted that the major drawback in getting the required statistics from the institutions of higher education was that the records are not properly maintained at the Institutional level. It is recommended that all the institutions of higher education should maintain an Information Register on which up-to-date data relating to the students, teachers and educational facilities in the institution as well as the income and expenditure should be maintained in such a form that all the data needs of the various user organisations such as UGC, Planning Commission, IAMR and the Ministry of Education are adequately met. A format of this Register should be worked out by a Working Group consisting of representatives of various user organisations and some of the higher education institutions. It would be obligatory for all the institutions of higher education to maintain this Register.

Statistics of Adult Education

5.25. The Directorate of Adult Education has a comprehensive programme for collecting data in respect of the various projects of Adult Education that are functioning in the different States and Union Territories. Under this programme some data are collected quarterly by the Directorate of Adult Education and quarterly State Reports are issued which provide information on the number of centres operating in the different States, enrolment in these centres and instructors, supervisors and other staff engaged in these projects. These quarterly statements are

used for the purpose of monitoring and evaluation of the Adult Education Programme. The Committee noted that the programme of data collection as a part of the monitoring process is functioning smoothly in most of the States, although monitoring returns are not received regularly in respect of the projects being implemented by universities/ colleges and certain voluntary Agencies.

5.26. The Committee attaches great importance to the regular collection of basic data in respect of Adult Education Programmes in the country. The programme may continue to operate under the aegis of Directorate of Adult Education but it is not necessary to collect the data on quarterly basis for the purpose of educational statistics. It may be alright for monitoring purposes, but the Directorate should provide annual statistics on the basis of their quarterly returns, which should be appropriately included in the educational statistics being compiled and produced, by the Ministry of Education.

Statistics of Technical Education

5.27. At present the statistics of Technical and Vocational Education are collected by the State Education Departments along with the statistics of General Education. The Division of the Technical Education in the Ministry of Education also collects some data on the courses offered in the institutions and their intake capacity. The Committee feels that it is necessary to co-ordinate the efforts in this regard to avoid duplication of data collection. The main responsibility of collecting data from these institutions should be that of the State Technical Education Department.

Statistics of Non-Formal Education

5.28 There has been considerable growth of the centres providing non-formal education for the school, drop-outs in the country in recent years. So far, the data collection

in respect of these centres have been undertaken mainly to meet the administrative requirements. It is necessary that the, Ministry of Education starts collecting on, a regular basis data on enrolments, number of teachers and other facilities in the non-formal education, centres with the assistance of State Education Departments. These data should be collected annually and should cover all the non-formal centres operating under different Agencies.

5.29. Apart from the non-formal centres meant for providing elementary education to the out-of-school children, there are also a number of un-recognised institutions in the country which provide some type of non-formal education of different levels and for different groups of learners. They include the private coaching institutions and the institutes preparing students for various academic, vocational and professional examinations. The Committee noted that it is extremely difficult to collect reliable statistics about enrolment, etc., from these institutions. However, since they cater to the educational needs of large numbers, it is necessary to have some data on the students enrolled in these institutions, their teachers, rates of fees, etc. The Committee suggests that periodic survey should be conducted to collect data from these institutions under the auspices of the National Sample Surveys Organisation. Other concerned agencies may also organise surveys from time to time for the different types of non-formal education programmes.