 EDUCATIONAL RESEARCH

The National Council of Educational Research and Training Supports educational research by providing financial assistance to individuals and outside organisations. It also awards fellowships so that educational problems are investigated and a band of competent research workers is created. Besides supporting the research efforts of others, the Council itself conducts significant research in different areas of. education. The priority areas of research are quality of school life, characteristics of school environment, academic difficulties of students, alternative strategies of education, learning outcomes, value changes, equality of educational opportunity, qualitative improvement of education, etc.

The Council conducts all India educational surveys, provides data processing service, analyses sample data, compiles selected information, collects educational statistics, provides training in survey methods and orientation in sample surveys. It has completed so far four all-India Educational Surveys. During this period, 4th Survey was supplemented by secondary analysis of the data, environmental studies for demography, educational facilities planning studies, district development plans, and the school mapping exercises.

The Council has been concentrating its efforts in identifying the various limiting factors particularly those which relate to the

status of women in society and curricular irrelevance which prevent women from taking full benefits of education and facilities. This helps promote education of girls and women. A survey of educational backwardness of girls was taken in the States identified as educationally backward. This project is being funded by UNICEF.

Tools for monitoring and evaluation of universalisation of elementary education programme have been developed during 1981-83 and a pilot try-out conducted. The tools cover enrolment, retention, attendance, transferability from non-format schools, etc. The tools envisage monitoring, physical, academic, teacher, financial and administrative aspects. Monitoring is undertaken at school, block, district, state and national levels. It is done on monthly, quarterly, half-yearly and annual basis.

During these years, the Council undertook evaluation of textbooks at school level from the standpoint of national integration. For this, tools and techniques have been developed, guidelines have been drafted, state agencies have been identified, and textbooks evaluation was taken up in 23 States and Union Territories.

UNICEF Projects : The specific objective of the UNICEF assisted project on Primary Education Curriculum Renewal (since 1975) is to develop innovative need-based curricula, instructional materials and strategies which can satisfy the educational requirements of the underprivileged children of the disadvantaged sections of the society. The project is implemented through 2,465 primary schools and 183 teacher training institutions covering 11,000 teachers and 0.4 million students.

The main objective of the UNICEF-assisted project on Com- prehensive Access to Primary Education is to develop for out of-school children of age-group 6-14, a large number of learning materials (episodes) based on local specific problems on modular approach to learning/instruction. The project is being implemented, since 1979, through 974 teacher training institutions and 19 in-service teacher training centres. About 13,000 draft modules have been developed so far.

The specific objective of UNICEF assisted project on Development Activities in Community Education and Participation, since 1975-76, is to develop programmes and instructional materials to provide opportunities of formal and non-formal education to cater to the needs of the age-group 0-3, 3-6, 6-14, 15-35 and others. The project is implemented through 102 community education centres all over India.

UNICEF assisted project on Nutrition, Health, Education and Environmental Sanitation attempts to integrate concepts and practices of nutrition and health education in. the curricular programmes of rural schools in 15 centres. It aims at development of environment- based instruction package on nutrition, health education and sanitation for primary school pupils, teacher-educators and supervisor's for more than 2,500 schools.

In children's Media Laboratory, set up with UNICEF assistance in 1975, the Council endeavours to develop and discover inexpensive, non- formal and effective media of educational value for children in age- group 3-8.

During the years 1982 and 1983, the University Grants Commission approved 488 major research projects in science subjects and 54 in humanities and social sciences involving a total grant of Rs. 444.88 lakhs. Besides, the Commission approved 1,880 minor research projects in science and 655 in humanities and social sciences involving an assistance of Rs. 147.32 lakhs.,

In the field of Technical Education, five Indian Institutes of Technology, which are apex institutions for engineering education and research, intensified their activities in the areas of continuing education and by starting new inter-disciplinary academic programmes and pursuing research and consultancy services.

The Government of India is directly assisting 12 State Governments and 20 Non-Government institutions for the development of their post-graduate courses as a part of the continuing scheme under the scheme of Development of Post-Graduate Courses and Research Work in Engineering and Technology.

The Review Committee on Post-graduate Education and Research in Engineering and Technology, inter-alia, recommended restructuring and Organisation of Post-graduate courses, identification of emerging areas, revision in the norms of assistance, faculty improvement etc.

The School of Planning and Architecture, with a view to further broadening its academic programmes relating to human settlements and the environment and also to promote research and extension, carried on effectively all its activities/programmes during this period.

The National Institute of Educational Planning and Admi- nistration, inter-alia, conducts research and studies and acts as a clearing house of information in the field of educational planning and administration. During the years 1981-83, the Institute took up a number of research studies, besides completing those already in hand.

The Indian Council of Social Science Research promotes and coordinates social science research in the country. The programmes and activities of the council continued during this period. The Council approved a large number of research projects and received completed reports in respect of the projects sanctioned earlier. Besides, the Council continued its support. to two sponsored research programmes, and assistance to 17 research institutes in the field of social sciences.

The Indian Council of Historical Research, inter-alia, sponsors historical research programmes. During the period under report, the Council continued to promote and facilitate historical research, which included grant-in-aid programme, sources programme, execution of special projects, holding of seminars, publication of journals/books and collaboration in the field of research. The Council sanctioned several research projects, fellowships and Study-cum-Travel/Contingent grants.

The Indian Council of Philosophical Research reviews the progress of research in philosophy, sponsors or assists projects or programmes of research in philosophy, gives financial

assistance to institutions,Organisation and individuals engaged in the conduct of research, promotes technical assistance and guidance, coordinates research activities and takes all such measures as are necessary to promote research in philosophy.