COMPUTERIZATION AND DISSEMINATION OF INFORMATION
7.1. In the existing pattern of compilation and tabulation of educational data, the computers are being made use of to a very limited extent. Facilities of a computer terminal are available to the Education Ministry, the NCERT and UGC which are linked to the National Informatic Centre.
7.2. From the past trend it has been observed that under the series `Education in India' publication, the work of compilation and tabulation does not exceed 3-4 months whereas the process of collection and reconciliation itself takes more than 3-4 years. This is due to the fact that the overall work load involved in the process of compilation and tabulation of data is limited to only 31 units consisting of 22 States and 9 Union territories which is quite small to handle the same on computer. Therefore, the time-lag is not likely to improve merely by use of computer for compilation and tabulation purposes at the national level. Recently the Ministry has taken up computerised processing of data on selected items on "Indian students going Abroad." It was possible to introduce computerisation as records in respect of approximately 2000 students/ trainees going abroad every year are available to the Ministry directly from the Reserve Bank of India and could be processed easily on the computer. The compu- terisation of other items it still under consideration. The
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NCERT have been using the computer facilities for data analysis for a long time. The UGC is also expected to introduce computerisation of educational statistics relating to higher education shortly.
7.3. Taking note of the available computer facilities and the data being collected by these agencies, the Committee identified the following areas for computerisation in the field of educational statistics:
(i) Compilation and tabulation of educational data in respect of
higher education. As the UGC collects data directly from the universities and a large number of affiliated colleges numbering about 4800, it could be possible to compile, tabulate and analyse the data received from colleges and universities on computer.
(ii) Data Bank At present most of the users of educational data in the country find themselves handicapped in the absence of adequate time series data available in the field of education. The Committee feels that important educational data collected annually could be stored on magnetic tapes/discs so as to provide ready access to those engaged on research studies. In fact, a large volume of data in the original form is not tabulated at present due to the long time taken in processing the same. Computerisation and storage of the information in the Data Bank will facilitate better utilisation of the data collected. It will also cut down the storage, space and time taken in retrieval of educational data and thus will help the planners, administrators and research workers. NCERT and NIEPA should
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also build up data bank and conduct other studies based on analysis of educational data. However, their work should be well-coordinated with that of the Ministry of Education and the UGC to ensure that there is no unnecessary duplication.
(iii) Application of statistical techniques to
educational data and processing of data of sample surveys. It could be possible to use computers with advantage for analysing a large amount of data collected and published by the Ministry, NCERT and the UGC and other organisations using statistical techniques like regression analysis, curve fitting, econometrics methods, operational research, simulation, modelling, etc. For conducting large sample surveys in education where the manual tabulation becomes difficult, the use of computers could be most effective. The tabulation of the data. collected through sample surveys could be undertaken with speed and accuracy and the results of the surveys made available for use with minimum time lag.
(iv) Projection, forecasting and model building. The Committee feels that with the use of computers the statistical wing of the Ministry and the other agencies could undertake the work relating to projection and forecasting of different variables which are required by the planners for fixing up the five year plan and annual plan targets. Besides, various policy measures and incentives schemes of the Government could be easily evaluated using simulation models. This could be possible only if computers are used to process the data collected on a large number of institutions.
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(v) Monitoring and evaluation of programme like (a) non- formal education programme, (b) adult education programme and (c) technical education programme, etc.
7.4 To take up these activities, it would be necessary that suitable computer personnel are available in these organisations. The Committee, therefore, recommends that System Analyst/Programmers should also be provided in the Education Ministry, NCERT and UGC for undertaking computerisation work if not provided so far.
7.5 Keeping in view the magnitude of data and the long time taken for their processing, the Committee feels that the pre-coded forms should be used for analysing the useful education data for monitoring and evaluation of these programmes.
Computerisation of educational statistics at the State Level. 7.6. With the introduction of computerisation, it could be possible to centralise the collection of educational data in respect of higher education institutions and higher Secondary schools also. For primary and middle schools also the data could be processed directly with the help of block-wise statistical returns in case of bigger states like U.P., M.P. & Bihar. For this purpose it is desirable to use the pre-coded types of forms for the collection of educational statistics in the States. Due to large number of teachers employed in the schools and colleges, it is desirable to computerise their records at the State level. The storage of data would facilitate to bring out special studies on teachers being taken up including attrition rates of teachers.
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7.7. Since it may be difficult to introduce computerisation in the field of educational statistics by all the States, the Committee recommends that a pilot project for computerisation of educational data may be undertaken by the Ministry of Education on experimental basis in case of one of the bigger states like U.P. or Bihar and based on their experience other States may also adopt similar system.
DISSEMINATION OF STATISTICAL INFORMATION
Existing Publications 7.8. The Ministry of Education brings out a number of statistical publications on the basis of the information collected from the States/U.T.s and other institutions every year as well as on periodical and ad-hoe basis. The most important statistical publication of the Education Ministry is the annual series "Education in India" Volumes I, II and III which contains detailed data on institutions, enrolment, teachers, income, expenditure and examination results. In addition to the publication "Education in India," the Ministry of Education also brings out a number of other statistical and non-statistical publications to meet its own requirements as well as those of other user organisations. Important time series data is released under the publication "A Handbook of Educational and Allied Statistics", "Trends of Enrolment & Trends of Educational Expenditure in Centre and States." The complete list of all the statistical publications brought Out by the Ministry of Education is given in Annexure VIII.
Printing 7.9. The Committee noted that the printing of statistical publications takes one year or more as the job is to be done by the Government of India Presses. Due to this avoidable delay the various user organisations are not
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able to use the latest data which could have been otherwise made available to them, in case the statistical publications could have been timely printed on priority basis by the Government of India Press or alternatively, through private printing press. The Committee, therefore, recommends that the Ministry should ensure that the Direc- torate of Printing makes available the printed copies of all the statistical publications within a period of 3 to 4 months after receiving the manuscript, in case, undue. delay in printing is anticipated on any occasion, the Ministry should take immediate action so that the publication could be printed with the help of the private printing presses in the stipulated time of 3 to 4 months.
7.10. For many publications the print order is generally one thousand or less. It is. therefore, suggested that the Ministry of Education may consider procuring necessary equipment for reproduction of thousand copies or so, so that printing work is done expeditiously.
7.11. Another bottleneck in the timely printing of statistical publication is the longtime taken in the collection and reconciliation of data relating to the Higher Education. To avoid this, the Committee recommends that the Ministry of Education should bring out separate statistical publications on school education and higher education so that timely data is available to different user organisations at least for school education.