APPENDICES: 1. GOVERNMENT OF INDIA RESOLUTION APPOINTING THE SECONDARY EDUCATION COMMISSION
COPY OF GOVERNMENT OF INDIA RESOLUTION No. F.9-5/52-B.I., DATED THE 23RD SEPTEMBER, 1952
The Central Advisory Board of Education at its Fourteenth Meeting held in January 1948 recommended the appointment of a Commission to examine the prevailing system-of Secondary education in the country and suggest measures for its reorganisation and improvement. At its meeting held in January, 1951, the Board reiterated its former decision and pressed for early implementation of its recommendation in view of the urgent need for the reconstruction of education at this level.
2. While the problems of education at the Elementary and the University stages have been surveyed in recent years and steps have also been taken to improve and coordinate facilities for Technical education, there has been no comprehensive or thorough examination of the problems pertaining to Secondary education. This is however the stage which marks the completion of education for the large majority of pupils. Further, it is the Secondary schools that supply teachers to the primary schools and students to Universities. An inefficient system of Secondary education is therefore bound to affect adversely the quality of education at all stages.
3. There are other considerations which also make a survey of Secondary education at the present time necessary. One of the major defects of the prevailing system of Secondary education is its unilinear and predominantly academic character. A fairly uniform system of Elementary education may serve the needs of children but cannot fulfil the requirements of adolescents at the Secondary stage when differences in aptitudes and interests begin to be clearly shown. The need for the reorganisation of Secondary education with diversified courses has become more urgent as a result of the acceptance by the Government of India and the State Governments of Basic Education as the pattern of education at the Elementary stage.
4. In view of these considerations, the Government of India have decided to set up a Secondary Education Commission consisting of the following members with instructions to submit its report as soon as may be feasible:
1. DR. A. LAKSHMANASWAMI MUDALIAR, Vice-Chancellor, Madras University, Madras (Chairman)
2. Principal JOHN CHRISTIE, Jesus College, Oxford
3. DR. KENNETH RAST WILLIAMS, Associate Director, Southern Regional Education Board, Altanta (U.S.A.)
4. Mrs. HANSA MEHTA, Vice-Chancellor, Baroda University, Baroda
5. Shri J. A. TARAPOREVALA, Director of Technical Education, Government of Bombay, Bombay
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6. Dr. K. L. SHRIMALI, Principal, Vidya Bhavan Teachers' Training College, Udaipur
7. Shri M. T. WAS, Principal, New Era School, Bombay
8. Shri K. G. SAIYIDAIN, Joint Secretary to the Government of India, Ministry of Education (Ex-Officio Member)
9. Principal A. N. BASU, Central Institute of Education, Delhi (Member-Secretary)
5. For the duration of the Commission's stay in any State, the State Government may, if it so desires, appoint a person to serve as a Member of the Commission on such terms and conditions as the State Government concerned may determine in consultation with the Government of India.
6. The terms of reference of the Commission will be:
(a) to enquire into and report on the present position of Secondary education in India in all its aspects ; and
(b) suggest measures for its reorganisation and improvement with particular reference to-
(i) the aims, organisation and content of Secondary education;
(ii) its relationship to Primary, Basic and High education;
(iii) the inter-relation of Secondary schools of different types ; and
(iv) other allied problems;
so that a sound and reasonably uniform system of Secondary education suited to, our needs and resources may be provided for the, whole country.