| INTRODUCTION |
| The Secondary Education which serves as a bridge between primary and higher education is expected to prepare young persons between the age group 14-18 in the world of work and entry into higher education. The Secondary Education starts with classes 9-10 leading to higher secondary classes 11 and 12. The relevant children population at the secondary and senior secondary level, as projected in 1996-97 by NSSO has been estimated at 9.66 crores. Against this population, the enrolment figures of the 1997-98 shows that only 2.70 crores attending schools. Thus, two-third of the eligible population remains out of the school system. To accommodate the children in schools at secondary level, we have at present 1.10 lakhs institutions (1998-99). With the emphasis on universalisation of elementary education and programmes like District Primary Education Programme, the enrolment is bound to increase and once this universalisation takes place, we may require more than two lakhs institutions at the secondary level to accommodate them. |
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| General Structure of School Education |
A uniform structure of school education, the 10+2 system has been adopted by all the States and Union Territories of India. However, within the States and the UTs, there remains variations in the number of classes constituting the Primary, Upper Primary, High and Higher Secondary school stages, age for admission to class I, medium of instruction, public examinations, teaching of Hindi and English, number of working days in a year, academic session, vacation periods, fee structure, compulsory education etc.
The Secondary Stage consists of Classes IX-X in 19 States/UTs. Viz., Arunachal Pradesh, Bihar, Haryana, Himachal Pradesh, Jammu & Kashmir, Madhya Pradesh, Manipur, Nagaland, Punjab, Rajasthan , Sikkim, Tamil Nadu, Tripura, Uttar Pradesh, West Bengal, Andaman & Nicobar Islands, Chandigarh, Delhi and Karaikal region of Pondicherry. The High School stage comprises classes VIII to X in 13 States/UTs viz., Andhra Pradesh, Assam, Goa, Gujarat, Karnataka, Kerala, Maharashtra, Meghalaya, Mizoram, Orissa, Dadra & Nagar Haveli, Daman & Diu, Lakshadweep and Mahe & Yanam regions of Pondicherry. However, the Higher Secondary / Senior Secondary stage of school comprising classes XI-XII (10+2 pattern) is available in all the States/UTs though in some States/UTs these classes are attached to Universities/Colleges. |
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| MEDIUM OF INSTRUCTION |
| Mother tongue or regional language is the medium of instruction at the primary stage of education in most of the States/UTs. Facilities for studying in a medium other than regional language vary considerable in different States and Union Territories. |
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| TEACHING OF HINDI |
| Apart from Hindi speaking States, teaching of Hindi is compulsory in most of the non-Hindi speaking States/UTs, though the classes from which the teaching of Hindi is compulsory differ from State to State. Teaching of Hindi is not compulsory in the States of Tamil Nadu, Tripura and Karaikal region of Pondicherry. |
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| TEACHING OF ENGLISH |
| Teaching of English is compulsory in all the States/UTs, except Bihar. However, the classes in which teaching of English is compulsory differs from State to State. In general, it is compulsory in Classes VI-X in most of the States/UTs. |
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| PUBLIC EXAMINATIONS |
| In all the States/UTs Public Examinations are conducted at the end of X an XII Classes by the respective State Boards of Secondary and Higher Secondary Education. The minimum age for the Secondary School Examination varies from 14+ to 16+ years in Gujarat. |
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| NUMBER OF WORKING DAYS |
| The number of working days of School Education in a year is generally more than 200 days in all the States/UTs. |
| SUPPORT ORGANISATIONS |
| The Secondary education is supported by the following organisations under the administrative control of the Union Department of Education: |
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National Council of Educational Research and Training (NCERT) |
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Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) |
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National Open School (NOS) |
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Kendriya Vidyalaya Sangathan (KVS) |
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Navodaya Vidyalaya Samiti (NVS) |
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Central Tibetan Schools Administration (CTSA) |
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Central Institute of Education Technology |
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State Institute of Education Technology ( AP, Bihar, Gujarat, Kerala, Maharashtra, Orissa, UP) |
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| Education Technology |
This Scheme is being operated since 1972. The Scheme has been modified from 1987-88. Under the modified scheme, the entire cost of Radio-cum-Cassette Player, in Primary Schools and 75% cost of colour TV in upper Primary Schools is met by the Central Government. The States/UTs are required to provide audio software (cassettes) along with Radio-cum-Cassette Players.
To enable production of suitable programmes for these schools, six autonomous State Institutes of Education Technology, in U.P., Bihar, Orissa, Maharashtra, Gujarat and Andhra Pradesh, have been set up and are funded under the Scheme for the production of school programmes to be broadcast by the Akashvani and telecast by the Doordarshan. A new SIET ahs also been set up in Kerala by the Kerala Govt. and the programme production cost alone is being funded by the Central Govt. for the present.
Up to September 1999, 3,92,463 Radio-cum-Cassette Players and 75,903 Colour Televisions have been sanctioned to the States and UTs, for distribution to Primary and other category of Schools.
The Scheme has been evaluated by National Institute of Educational Planning and Administration (NIEPA). The report, inter-alia, recommends the continuance of the Scheme with certain improvements in its management. The Scheme has also been evaluated by the Social and Rural Institute (SRRI), New Delhi. The finding of the study clearly show a direct relationship between viewing of educational Telecasts and significantly better performance by children on factors such as language skills and Visual representation which satisfy their curiosity. The major findings of the study have been brought to the notice of the concerned States/UTs for taking necessary action. |
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| SCHEMES AND PROGRAMMES |
| The development of Secondary Education sector is also supported by the following specific Centrally Sponsored Schemes: |
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Vocationalisation of Secondary Education |
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integrated Education for Disabled Children |
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Computer Literacy and Studies in Schools (CLASS) |
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Education Technology |
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Improvement of Science Education in Schools |
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Promotion of Yoga in Schools |
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Strengthening Culture and Values in Schools |
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Strengthening Boarding and Hostel Facilities for Girls |
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Environmental orientation to School Education. |
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Vocationalisation of Secondary Education |
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Basic Components of the Scheme |
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Creation of separate administrative structure at the State, District, school level to manage vocational education programmes. |
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Strengthening of SCERTs to provide technical support for research, development, training and evaluation. |
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Conducting district vocational surveys in all the districts for assessment of labour market demand. |
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Development of curriculum, instructional material, text books and guide material. |
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Provision of two full time teachers per section, honorarium for part time experts, training of teachers. |
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Provision for one workshed per section and basic equipment for the course. |
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Computer Literacy And Studies in Schools (CLASS) |
| A revised CLASS Scheme has been introduced from the financial year 2001-02. Main Features of the scheme are : |
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Each State/UT would be requested to formulate a Computer Education Plan (CEP). The CEP would indicate the steps already taken by the State Government/UTs and the assistance which they now require. |
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The Department of Secondary & Higher Education would set up a Project Monitoring and Evaluation Group at the national level which would consider the CEPs. Funds would be allocated on the recommendations of the Project Monitoring and Evaluation Group. |
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The State Governments would have to contribute a minimum of 25% of the funds required for the scheme. |
| The assistance of the Government of India would be for the following items and upto the limits indicated against each item: |
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PC / Printer / CRT not exceeding Rs. 60,000/- per set |
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Software / curriculum / CDs not exceeding Rs. 25,000/- schools per annum |
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Furniture (one time) not exceeding Rs. 10,000/- per school |
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Computer stationery not exceeding Rs. 20,000/- per school per annum |
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Maintenance – 50% of the cost of the annual maintenance contract (after the period of warranty is over) |
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Internet connectivity, not exceeding Rs. 5,000/- per annum |
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Teacher’s Training – not exceeding Rs. 10,000/- per school per year (for teachers teaching in such schools for which the grants are agreed to be given) |
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An amount of Rs. 1 crore would be kept aside for the Department of S & HE for development of software, teaching tools, designing training models, evaluation, monitoring and other contingent expenditure |
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Only such schools which have computer education as an elective subject at the secondary state would be eligible for the grants under the scheme. However, the scheme could be implemented in English/Hindi or the regional language |
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The CEPs received from the State / UTs will be examined by a Project Monitoring and Evaluation Group to be constituted in MHRD Kendriya Vidyalayas / Navodaya Vidyalayas would be converting one of their schools into SMART school with a grant of Rs. 25 lakhs per school Kendriya Vidyalayas and Navodaya Vidyalayas would be given funds @ Rs.15,000/- per neighbourhood school to impart computer literacy to not more than 10 neighbourhood schools to cover 10,000/- such schools over three years |
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During financial year 2001-02 a provision of Rs. 84.50 crores has been earmarked for this purpose. |
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| NATIONAL AWARDS TO TEACHERS |
These were instituted in 1958. There are 302 awards out of which 20 awards are reserved exclusively for teachers of Sanskrit, Persian and Arabic teaching in traditional institutions.
In order to be eligible the teacher should have put in 15 years of continuous service on the date of consideration of his claim by the State level Selection Committee.
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