FOREWORD
 

As an agency engaged in the qualitative improvement of school education, the National Council of Educational Research and Training (NCERT), New Delhi, has been undertaking projects related to Educational Research, Development, Training and Extension, as also those related to the collection of educational statistics and dissemination of information. Among the various projects of the NCERT, the ones which are not only the most voluminous but are also of perennial utility for educational planning are the All-India Educational Surveys. These surveys assume a special significance because they are 'Census Surveys' and not just 'Sample Surveys'. It is this single attribute that imparts comprehensiveness and authenticity to the data collected as a part of these surveys. The Planning Commission at the Centre and the planning agencies in the States have always been reverting to this "data-bank" for reference, while taking vital decisions about education. This proud expectation stands aroused once again with the completion of the Fifth All-India Educational Survey, the report of which is contained in the present document.

A task of this depth and dimension could not have been accomplished without the active help and cooperation of the State governments and Union Territory administrations, more specially the State Survey Officers, and I wish to put on record our sincere gratefulness to them and our appreciation of their effective collaboration.

At the NCERT, the operationalization of this Survey was planned and executed through the Department of Measurement, Evaluation, Survey and Data Processing (DMES&DP) by a dedicated team of faculty members led by Dr H. S. Srivastava, former Professor and Head of this Department. Prof. A. B. L. Srivastava, who functioned as the Head of the Department between July and December 1988, guided the project during this period. At the planning stage, as also partly at the implementation stage of the project, Prof. K. N. Hiriyanniah played a very crucial role as a faculty member, and subsequently, on superannuation, as Consultant to the. project. Dr D. N. Abrol, Dr C. L. Kaul, the late S. M. Bhargava, Dr Satvir Singh, Dr K. N. Rao, Shri. S. C. Mittal, Dr I. K. Bansal, Dr J. K. Gupta Shri Pushpendra Kumar, Shri M. K. Gupta, Shri O. P. Arora and Smt. Manju Trehan, as members of the well-knit team, provided the foundation and academic support in the execution of the above project. In fact, the students of planning and management of education would be indebted Lo all of them for this valuable outcome of their efforts. On my part I am happy to put on record NCERT's grateful appreciation for this monumental work of theirs.

Dr. K. GOPALAN

Director

National Council of Educational

Research and Training