Tuesday, October 14, 2014

Advisory and Autonomous Bodies

Advisory and Autonomous Bodies
            The Ministry is advised on educational matters and assisted to perform many of its activities by a number of Advisory and autonomous Bodies like the Central Advisory Board of Education, National Council of Educational Research and training, University Grants Commission. These organisations not only guide the Ministry in formulation of its plans and policies, but also help implementing its programmes and Schemes in their own way. Here, we will discuss briefly about the constitution and functions of some such bodies.
Central Advisory Board of Education

            This board is a statutory body set-up in 1921. It is the main advisory body of longstanding in the field of education. The Board popularly known as CABE consists of the following members; representatives of the Union and State Governments (generally the State Education Ministers), representatives of the universities and parliament, representatives of various educational bodies. The Union Minister for Education is the chairman and the Secretary of the Board is appointed by the Government of India.
            The tenure of office of the non-official members of the Board is three years. They, however, cease to be members of the Board as soon as they cease to be members of the organisations, for which they are representatives. Similarly, the ex officio members of the Board will continue in their position as long as they hold the office by virtue of which they are members of the Board. All temporary vacancies in the memberships, other than ex officio members are filled by the organisations who nominated or elected the members whose place falls vacant. The individuals by whom such temporary vacancies are filled, continue as members of the Board for remaining period of the term for which the person whose place he fills would have been a member (as per the government of India, Ministry of Education, Notification No. 6-2 50D, dated May 25, 1950).
            On the whole, the board provides a common platform for a nation-wide cross-section of representatives hailing from various sectors of education whose deliberation and decisions emerge out of the cross-fertilisation of rich ideas and long experiences. This helps immensely the formulation of sound educational policies and programmes keeping aloof from hot-bed of nasty politics and partisan verbal fights.
Functions
a.       To advice on any educational question which may be referred to it by the government of india or by any local government.
b.      To call for information and advice regarding educational development of special interest and value of india; to examine this information and evaluate it with recommendations to the government of India and the local governments.
Central Board of Secondary Education
            The central board of secondary education was established to cater to the educational needs of those students who had to move form state to state due to their parents transfer, etc. it has been making significant contribution towards the standard of education specially secondary education, improvement of curricular, text-books, methods of teaching and evaluation.
            In September 1971, it had 781 higher secondary schools mostly central school affiliated to it. The board conducts the all-india higher secondary examination and the higher secondary technical examinations. It also conducts the matriculation an higher secondary examination for schools in union territories.
            Beside conducting these examinations the other important activities of the board are examination reform and orientation courses for teachers of affiliated schools. It has introduced physical education as an elective subject for the higher secondary examination and job-oriented courses for its examinations. Work experiences has also been introduced in its curriculum.
The National Council of Educational Research and Training (NCERT)
            The NCERT was established as an autonomous organisation in September 1961 under the societies Registration Act of 1860. It is concerned with all problems of school education in the country, and endeavours to improve such education through developing various programmes of research, publication, extension training. It is fully financed by the Ministry of Education and acts as the principal academic adviser to the Ministry in matter relating to school education. It not only undertakes implementation of the policies and programmes of the Ministry, but also deals with specific problems of educational importance on its own initiative.
            The union Education Minister is the president of the Council. It has a General Body on which all the State Ministers of Education are represented in addition to eminent educationists. Management of all the affairs and fund of the council vests in the governing Body or the Executive Committee which is composed of officers of the Council, representatives of the Faculties of Council, representatives of the Ministries of Education and Finance, and eminent educationists.
The functions of the Council are discharged on the following broad lines
a.       To undertake studies, investigations and surveys relating to school education.
b.      To organise pre-service and in-service training mainly at an advanced level.
c.       To organise extension services
d.      To disseminate improved educational techniques and good practices and
e.       To act as a clearing-house for ideas and information on all matters relating to school education.
Other Activities
            For the realisation of the above objectives, NCERT undertakes the following programmes and activities.
1.      Conducts, aids, promotes and coordinates research in all branches of school education.
2.      Organises pre-service and in-service training of teachers mainly at an advanced level.
3.      Organises extension services for institutions, organisations, and agencies engaged in educational reconstruction.
4.      Develops and experiments with improved educational techniques, practices and innovations.
5.      Collects, compiles and disseminates educational information.
6.      Assists the states and the state-level institutions, organisations and agencies in developing and implementing programmes for qualitative improvement of school education.
7.      Collaborates with international organisations like UNESCO, UNICEF, etc. and with national-level educational institutions of other countries.
8.      Extends facilities for training and study of educational personnel from other contries
9.      Serves as the academic secretariat of the National Council for Teacher Education (NCTE).
The national council of educational research and training runs the following.
1.      The National Institute of Education (NIE).
2.      Central Institute of Educational Technology.
3.      Four Regional Institutions of Education formerly known as Regional Colleges of education
4.      Seventeen field units.
Objectives of NCERT
            The council works for achieving the following objectives.
1.      To establish a National Institute of Education (NIE) and manage for the development of research and higher training for educational administration and teachers.
2.      Te arrange for the establishment of training institutes for the professional and scientific enhancement of teaching.
3.      To provide guidance and counselling services on a large scale.
4.      To publish necessary textbooks, journals and other literature for achieving the objectives.
5.      To organise extension centres in training institutions with the co-operation of the state governments and extend facilities pertaining to new methods and technologies among them.
6.      To launch, organise and strengthen research works in various aspects of education.
7.      To arrange pre-service and in-service training at the higher level.
University Grants Commission
            In the recommendation of the University Education Commission, 1949, the University Grants Commission was set-up in 1953. It was, however, given an autonomous statutory status by an Act of Parliament, 1956. It consists of a full time Chairman, a Secretary, and nine members generally selected from among eminent educators and administrators of the country.
            The main function of the University Grants Commission, U.G,C as it is popularly called is to ensure the promotion and co-ordination of university education and the determination and maintenance of standards of teaching, examination and research in universities. In pursuance of this, the U.G.C. continues to give full grants to the central universities and also for the development grants approved by the Commissions. Grants are also given to State Universities for their various development projects. The U.G.C also renders assistant for the development of existing post-graduate departments and establishments of new ones in various universities and colleges. It contributes liberally towards the improvement of salary scales of teachers, construction of students’ hostels and staff quarters and institution of fellowships and scholarships for post-graduate work. With a view to promoting researches not only a large number of junior and senior fellowships and scholarships for post-graduate work. With a view to promoting researches not only a large number of grants are paid to universities to enable teachers and research workers to visit centres of learning in the country in pursuance of their work and to obtain specialised training in their respective fields. Similarly, grants are given to such research workers and teachers for the purchase of books and journals to be used as references.
Activities of U.G.C
During its short period of existence, the U.G.C has been able to float a number of projects and schemes. Some of them are mentioned here.
1.      Autonomous colleges.
2.      Redesigning the undergraduate courses by making them more relevant and to link education with work/field/practical experience and productively.
3.      Consolidation of and expansion of facilities of the existing university departments and colleges.
4.      Providing computer facilities to 93 universities and mini-computers to 200 colleges during the seventh plan period.
5.      Setting up academic staff colleges for the orientation of newly appointed university and college lecturers.
6.      Special assistance for the promotion of research to individual teachers and colleges.
7.      Setting up documentation centres like Nuclear science centres at JNU, Radio astronomy centre at Poona University, National Centre of Astronomy at Osmania University, Hyderabad.
8.      Providing media and educational technology facilities.
9.      Adult, continuing, and extension programmes in 92 universities and 2121 colleges.
10.  Provides facilities to scheduled Castes/Scheduled tribes.
11.  Bilateral Exchange programmes of college teachers.
12.  Special assistance to universities to undertake well defined projects for research in women’s studies; and
13.  Selected university departments are recognised as centres for Advanced Studies (CAS) and certain departments for financial assistance.
Asian Institute of Educational Planning and Administration
            The Asian Institute of Educational Planning and Administration was established by the UNESCO in agreement with the Government of India in the year 1962. It is intended to cater primarily to the needs of the educational and planners of the Asian region.
Functions
a.       To provide short in-service training courses for the officers of the various ministries or departments of participating Asian Member States and associated members of UNESCO.
b.      To undertake and promote research in the technique of educational planning, administration and to place the results at the disposal of such member-states and associate members and
c.       To assist such state, upon request, in organising educational planning services and holding national training courses.
The institute organises every year a 5-6 month training course for Educational Planners and Administrators which is designed to improve the equipment of educational planners and administrators of the continent. Hundreds of participants from various Asian countries have benefited from this training programme. A number of seminars have also been conducted by the institute in different fields of educational planning, research and administration. Some seminars of Experts on University Teaching for Educational Planning have been organised and a large number of studies have been undertaken in support of the training programme. Many research projects have been taken up by the institute on the burning problems referred to be the associate members and member-states.
Indian Programme
            It has been decided by the UNESCO and the Government of India to organise an Indian Programme of training and research in educational planning and administration within the Asian Institute. It is envisaged that the Indian programme will gradually develop to its full stature by the end of the Fourth plan and will be the precursor to the National Staff College for Educational Administrators, as recommended by the Education Commission, 1964-66. The activities proposed under Indian Programme include the following;
a.       Organising conferences, seminars and workshops as part of the pre-service and in-service training and extension programme for educational officers, administrators and planners in India.
b.      Undertaking comparative studies of administrative and planning patterns and practices in the different states of India.
c.       Conducting research in selected problems of educational administration, planning and evaluation; and
d.      Developing necessary documentation and information services and bringing out publications.
National Staff College for Educational Planners and Administrators, NewDelhi
            Since the 1st March, 1973, the National Staff College for Educational Planners and Administrators has been set-up in the place of Asian Institute of Educational Planning and Administration which ceased to exist with the expiry of agreement with UNESCO. In the beginning, the Staff College made a review of the training courses conducted by the Asian Institute during the decade 1962-72 and undertook a study of the impact of the courses among the alumni of Asian Institute. It also identified the needs for training among educational planners and administrators.
National Institute of Educational Planning and Administration
            Formerly known as the National Staff College for Educational Planners and Administrators. This institution is an autonomous body set-up by the Government of India as the national apex institution in the field of educational planning and administration. The origin of the Institute can be traced to the year of 1962 when the Asian Institute of Educational Planning and Administration was set-up by the Government of India under a 10 year agreement with the UNESCO for purpose of training senior educational planners and administrators in the Asian region. On the recommendations of the Indian Education commission (1966), the Asian Institute was taken over by the Government of India on the expiry of the agreement with the UNESCO and redesigned as the National Staff College for Educational Planners and Administrators.
            In may 1979, the Institute formed its present name and framed its Memorandum of Association under the Societies Registration Act, 1860 as amended by the Punjab Act of 1957 and as applied to the Union Territory of Delhi. During this period the Institute has rendered valuable services in the area of educational planning and administration, not only to the Union and State Governments and other organisations within the country but also to several other countries particularly of the Third world.
Functions of NIEPA
a.       To organise training programme for educational functionaries in the various sub-sectors and at various levels of education for improving capabilities in the key areas of educational planning and administration.
b.      To strengthen capabilities for training and research in the field of educational planning and administration at the sub-national levels.
c.       To build symbiotic links between the imparting and generation of knowledge, and with this end in order to strengthen basic and applied research in the sphere of educational planning and administration.
d.      To provide consultancy services in the sphere of educational planning and administration to central as well as state governments, Universities, Boards and other similar organisation in India and to governments and International organisations abroad.
e.       To disseminate information relating to innovative experiences and new advances in the area of educational planning and administration.
f.       To initiate and encourage discussion on educational issues of national significances; and
g.      To establish contacts and advance academic collaboration with sister institutions in India and abroad, particularly in the countries of the Third world.
National Council for Teacher Education (NCTE)
            The NCTE has been established as a statutory body to achieve planned and co-ordinated development of teacher education system throughout the country and to ensure the maintenance of norms and standards in teacher education system. The mandate given to the NCTE is very broad and covers the whole gamut of teacher education programmes including research and training of persons for equipping them to teach at pre-primary, primary, secondary and senior secondary stages in schools, and non-formal education, part-time education, adult education and correspondence education courses. The national council for teacher education was established by an Act of Parliament (No. 73 of 1993) with a view to achieving planned and co-ordinated development of the teacher education system throughout the country, the regulation and proper maintenance of norms and standards in the teacher education system and for matters connected therewith.
Functions of NCTE
a.       To undertake surveys and studies relating to various aspects of teacher education and publish the result therof;
b.      To make recommendations to the central and state governments Universities; University Grants commissions and recognised institutions in the matter of preparation of suitable plans and programmes in the field of teacher education.
c.       To co-ordinate and monitor teacher education and its development in the country.
d.      To lay down guidelines in respect of minimum qualifications for a person to be employed as a teacher in schools or in recognised institutions.
e.       Promote innovations and research studies and organise them periodically or annually
f.       Supervise the teacher-education programmes and provide financial assistance
g.      Enforcing accountability of teacher development programmes in the country.
h.      Preventing commercialisation in teacher education and maintain quality and standard of teacher education to produce better teachers.
i.        Entrust responsibility to other organisations universities and other institutes.
j.        Prepare a programme for in-service teacher education for orienting teachers for the latest development.
k.      Establish international relations in the area of teacher education.
National Assessment and Accreditation Council
            National Assessment and Accreditation Council (NAAC) is an autonomous institution established under section 12CCC of the UGC Act for assessment and accreditation of institutions of higher learning or their units. It is an outcome of the National Education Policy (NEP, 1986) and the UGC’s initiative to create a national body for the maintenance and co-ordination of standards in higher education. Assessment means the performance evaluation of an institution of higher learning and/or its units, based on certain established criteria. Accreditation refers to the certification granted by NAAC for a stated period of time after an assessment of the institutions and /or its units.
National Open School
            Many of you had to leave school without completing the secondary or senior secondary classes. Most of you wanted to study but could not attend a regular school. National open school has been setup (1989) by government of India, Ministry of Human resource Development as an autonomous Institution. It provides an educational opportunity to persons like you who wish to study and qualify for a better tomorrow. The mission of NOS  is to provide education for all with special concern for girls and women, rural youth, working men and women, SC/ST, handicapped and other disadvantaged groups.
Indian council of social science research (ICSSR)
            The planning commission realised the importance of social science research works. A committee was appointed by the commission and it recommended establishing the council at national level. This council was established in August (1969) as an autonomous organisation. The main focus of the council is also establish co-ordination them. The financial assistance and grants are provided by the council. The council has the following functions.
a.       To review the social science research studies and provide guidance for their applicability.
b.      To provide grants and financial assistance to universities, colleges, and other institutes for social science research.
c.       It also provides the financial assistance for individual research areas.
d.      It encourages the interdisciplinary research studies and co-ordination such studies.
e.       To organise orientation courses, seminars, workshops for new methodology and new areas of studies.
f.       To provide the financial assistance for conducting research studies and projects in social science subjects.
g.      Its provides the scholarships and fellowships for the full time research workers.
h.      It provides the guides for the social science research to the institute and research workers.
i.        It encourages the research workers to review the studies of developed countries to understand our own problems.
All India Council for Elementary Education
            To promote universal, compulsory and free education of children in the age group of 6-14 years.
Functions
a.       To advise the government of india/state government/ loval bodies regarding elementary education.
b.      To help in the production of literature required for elementary education.
c.       To prepare programmes for the quick implementation of universal free and compulsory education for the children of age group of 6-14.
All India Council of Technial Education
            This council was set up in 1945 for the advancement and approvement of technical education. The policy with regard to technical education is under its control. Moreover, it deals with different technical institutions of higher education.
Navodaya vidyalayas
            For the equalization of educational opportunities to the backward classes and rural areas, the navodayas vidhyas are opened. This schools on the pattern of resident public schools have been opened in every district. This has been done to improve the quality of education, at the secondary stage. The central government will finance this scheme.

Educational administration of the state level
            The department of Education in each state consists of two wings; 1. The Secretariat and 2. The Directorate. Education as an important portfolio is usually retained by the chief Minister himself or given to a prominent member of the state cabinet. The Minister for Education is also assisted by one or two deputy Ministers. He is to lead and inspire the entire educational set-up of the state.1. School education 2. Higher education

State Council of Educational Research and Training (SCERT)
Directorate of School Education
Tamilnadu State Council for Higher Education
DIET

Collegiate Education

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