Annual Report 1977-78

ANNUAL REPORT 1977-78 NIEPA DC a Government of India MINISTRY OF EDUCATION AND SOCIAL WELFARE (Department of Education and Department of Culture) NEW D E L H I CONTENTS P ages I. I ntroductory ....... 1 DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION ,C,!A?TI RS I School Education ..... 6 II Higher Education and Research . 34 III Technical Education ..... C3 IV Scholarships ....... 76 V Book Promotion and Copyright . 84 VI Y o u th S e r v i c e s .............................................. 94 VII Physical Education and Sports . 101 Til Languages ....... 114 IX Indian National Commission for Cooperation with Unesco ...... 132 X Adult Education ...... 136 XI Education in Union Territories . 145 XII Activities in Common and Clearing Hou1- Functions ....... 157 DEPARTMENT OF CULTURE ! Cultural Affairs ...... 173 II Archaeology ...... 107 III Anthropology ...... 210 IV A rchives ....... 216 Museums and Libraries and their Conservation and Development . 219 T. F in a n c ia l A l lo c a t io n s of Items D iscussed . 241 'III. A dministrative C ha rts DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION INTRODUCTORY Policies and Priorities The National Policy on Education adopted by the Government of India in 1968 envisaged the development of education in the country in accordance with the guidelines provided therein. A review of the policy in the light of the progress made after 5 years was envisaged and provided for in the policy : soon after taking office in March, 1977, the Government decided to review the implementation of the National Policy. It started with the discussions- which the Education Minister initiated with educa tionists, individual Members of Parliament, members of the public, representatives of teachers’ and students’ organisations and others to ascertain their response to the various policies and programmes in operation. A meeting was held with the authorities of the Planning Commission to identify the priority areas for action in the field of education for purposes of plan ning. A conference of Education Ministers of States and Union Territories was held in August, 1977 to seek their advice invol vement and support to these efforts. This Conference was a significant event which recommended the policies in certain crucial sectors of education and identified new directions for action. The Conference, after detailed discussions, drew up the recommendations on the basis of a consensus. They relate to :— (11 the Realisation of the goal of universal elementary education by the end of Sixth Plan; (2) the Adoption of a massive programme of adult edu cation; ■3) the Implementation of the new pattern of 10+2 education structure all over the country before the end o? the Sixth Pian with suitable modifications in content: (4) the Inclusion of education in the core sector of the Sixth Plan with priority for elementary and adult education. These recommendations formed the basis of further action by the Ministry. 2 Elementary Education A working group was set up by the Ministry in collaboration with the Planning Commission to prepare a time-bound pro gramme for universal elementary education. The working group has submitted its interim report. It envisages 90% en rolment of the children In the age group 6— 14 before the end of the Sixth Plan. It seeks an investment of Rs. 900 erores in the Plan. It has also emphasised increased attention to the problems of the weaker sections such as Scheduled Castes, Scheduled pibes, landless labourers and girls. It provides for a massive programme of non-formal education to ensure that students who are unable to make use of the facilities of formal education afid also who drop out of the formal system are given access to education. The approach behind the proposals is that every child shall continue to learn in the age group 6— 14 on a full-time basis, if possible, and on a part-time basis, if necessary. The proposals of the working group spell out the strategy for non-formal education, propose modification of curricula to achieve relevance and identify measures for quality improve m ent. Government also set up a committee of educationists under the Chairmanship of Shri Ishwarbhai Patel to consider the ques tion of reducing the academic load on the children at school stage and to modify the curriculum to suit the needs and require ments of our society. The report envisages considerable reduc tion of the academic load of the children. It also proposes in creased attention to new programmes like socially useful produc tive work, social service, extra-curricular activities. Most of the proposals of Ishwarbhai Patel Committee have been accepted by the State Boards of Education and they are now before the State Education authorities for follow up action. Vocationalisation A committee was also set up by Government under the Chairmanship of Dr. Malcom Adiseshiah to review the proposals drawn up by the National Council of Education Research and Training for vocationalisation of higher secondary education and recommend a plan of action for the introduction of voca tionalisation at the secondary and higher secondary stages. The report of the group was received recently and it is under consi deration. 3 A working group was also set up in collaboration with the Planning Commission to determine the policies and program mes for vocationalisation. in the next Plan. It is hoped that posi tive programmes for vocationalisation of education with empha sis on the rural sector would be evolved in the next plan in the light of the recommendations of these two groups. However, it is expected that these programmes may have to be still of an experimental nature but on a larger scale in the next plan. Adult Education A working group was set up in collaboration with the Plan ning Commission to draw up policies and programmes for the removal of adult illiteracy in the country in a time-bound pro gramme. The interim report of the group has been received. It envisages a programme reaching 65 million of adults during the next Plan and hopes to reach the target of 100 million be fore 1983-84. A National Adult Education Board has been established to ensure national leadership and monitoring of the programme. An outline of the National Adult Education Programme lias been prepared in consultation with experts, Members of Parlia ment and others. The Education Minister has had extensive discussions with the business of the political parties. Members of Parliament, youth leaders, leaders of students’ organisations, representatives of trade unions, members of industry and trade and commerce and universities with a view to developing a broad base for the programme and promoting it on a mass scale. The National Adult Education Programme is to be for mally launched on October 2. 1978. Educational Technology The importance of educational technology as a tool to pro mote mass efforts 1 :1 education is recognised and the Ministry has set up a group to submit proposals for the effective use of educational technology to achieve universalisation of elementary education and adult education. Higher Education The importance attached to the sector of higher education has been shifted. The approach in this sector is to regulate en rolment while ensuring access for the weaker sections of the population and improving the quality of education and research 4 ,u this level. The University Grants Commission has prepared proposals for the involvement of the universities in programmes ol adult and elementary education. Other measures enabling greater equalisation of educational opportunities at this level of higher education are also being designed. Technical Education A working group set up to consider the policies and pro grammes for technical education made specific recommendations in this regard. These recommendations have been placed be fore the All India Council of Technical Education which has endorsed them. The group has recommended improved effi ciency and effectiveness of the courses of study and the estab lishment of a national manpower information system. Research, must be industrial and rural development oriented keeping in view national needs. Sports and Physical Education In the area of sports and physical education, the main thrust has been to broad base sports and extend it to rural and tribal areas. Rural sports have gamed a firm foot-hold and the iota! annual participation now has reached about 12 lakhs rural youth right from the block to the national level. The National Sports Festival for Women has become a regular feature. Languages and Book Development The diverse programmes undertaken in the development oi languages maintained their tempo during the period, [n the sphere of hook promotion, the World Book Fair was organised in Delhi in February, 1978 with impressive foreign and local participation. About 200.000 books were displayed during the Fair. An international seminar on Educational Publishing in the Developing Countries was one of the highlights of the Fair The tenth meeting of the Indo-Soviet Textbook Board held in Delhi in January, 1978 recommended various measures to wards accelerating the pace of the programme and its etifcctive implementation. A notable evdnt during the year was the substantial reduction in the tax rates on royalty remittances from India with effect from 1st April, 1977. Relief was also provided to artists towards import of artists' material including oil colour, hand-made paper etc. 5 UNESCO The Diretetor-Geaeral of UNESCO, Mr. Amadou-Mahtar M'Bovr paid an official visit to India in May, 1977. He held discussions among others with scientists, technologists and mem bers ot the Indian Institute of Mass Comunication on Unesco programmes. His visit is expected to strengthen the association of the country with Unesco and acccle-ate the programmes of mutual collaboration. Archaeology The implementation of the Antiquities and Art Treasures Act. 1972 was pursued in a vigorous manner.

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