EDUCATION & CULTURE

GENERAL EDUCATION

Primary Education.

Primary education is mainly the concern of the local authorities like the municipalities and the Zilla Parishad. There has been a rapid growth in the number of primary schools in the district during the last ten years. The number of primary schools was 345 in 1951. It increased to 509 in 1956 and to 712 in 1961. On 31st March 1962, their number was 728. Nearly 91 per cent of the primary schools (including Government schools) are managed by the Zilla Parishad, and out of the remaining, only 11 or nearly 2 per cent are managed by private institutions. The rest are managed by the municipalities.

Following is the account of the steady progress made in the field of primary education for the years 1950-51, 1955-56, 1960-61 and 1963-64.

It could thus be seen that the number of primary schools nearly doubled during the last decade whereas the number of teachers and number of students increased by three times during the same period. The policy of converting primary schools into basic schools is also making steady progress. The number of basic schools in the district was 33 in 1951. It increased to 48 in 1956 and to 72 in 1961. Their number stood at 163 on 31st March 1962. As shown earlier during the year 1963-64 these schools had on their roll 72,238 students of whom 42,434 were boys and 29,804 were girls. These schools had a staff of 2,348 teachers. Generally trained teachers are employed in primary schools. Thus out of 2,348 teachers 1,947 i.e. 83 per cent were trained teachers.

The expenditure on primary education is incurred by the State Government by extending grants-in-aid to Zilla Parishad and building loans and grants to primary teachers' training colleges. Similarly, wards of parents whose annual income does not exceed Rs. 1,800 get free education. The cost borne by the schools on this account is reimbursed by the State Government.

The scheme of free and compulsory primary education has Been introduced in three towns, viz., Arvi, Wardha and Devli during the Second Plan. A provision of Rs. 42.28 lakhs was made for primary education in the Third Plan for the district. 699 additional teachers were appointed in primary schools.

Secondary Education.

Secondary education is now under the general regulation of the Government which exercises control by prescribing conditions for receipt of grant-in-aid by the concerned educational institutions. At the end of high school course an examination is conducted by the Board. The examination provides optional courses for pupils with varied interests and aptitudes.

There are two kinds of middle schools, (1) Indian English middle school with classes from V to VIII standards and (2) Indian middle school having classes from I to VII standards. During the year 1967 there were 97 secondary schools which were under the control of different managements including the Zilla Parishad, Wardha. In 1964-65 there were 89 secondary schools and 8 higher institutions i.e., colleges in the district.

The progress of secondary education in the district is outstanding. The number of secondary schools increased from 18 in 1951 to 54 in 1961 and to 89 in 1964-65. The total number of students attending the schools in the year 1964-65 was 33,660, out of whom 23,813 were boys and 9,847 girls. The schools provided large number of trained teachers for imparting education. The total expenditure on secondary education in the district during the year 1964-65 amounted to Rs. 32,16,517.

The increase in the number of colleges for imparting higher education in the district is also noteworthy. As compared to 1950-51 when there was only one college in the district, the number of colleges increased to 8 in the year 1964-65. They provide education in the faculties of Arts, Science, Commerce and Teaching. Most of the colleges have been located in the Wardha tahsil, and are managed by private institutions. They receive grants towards maintenance, dearness allowance and buildings from Government.

Training of teachers in primary and secondary schools is controlled at district level by the Education Officer. But these training institutions are outside the control of Wardha Zilla Parishad. The percentage of the trained primary teachers was 96 during the year 1967. In 1963-64 there were 11 such institutions of which 5 were for primary teachers and 6 for secondary teachers.

Economically Backward Class concession scheme.

Various educational facilities are made available to the people in the district. Students up to the age of 14 years get free education in all schools. Similarly wards of parents whose annual income does not exceed Rs. 1,800 are given education free of cost. Students from Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes similarly get free education and scholarships are given to them at the rate of Rs. 3 in I and II standards and Rs. 6 in III and IV standards annually. Under the scheme of aid to backward class and mixed hostels. Rs. 1,12,442 were spent on 12 backward class hostels and 3 cosmopolitan hostels in the district during the year 1962-63. 521 students were admitted in these hostels.

A provision is also made to impart training in special fields such as Polytechnic, Engineering, Agriculture, etc. There is one Industrial Training Institute at Pulgaon, one Agricultural School at Selsura and two Nursing and Midwifery Schools towards this end. Besides there is also one Homoeopathic College at Wardha.

Special Education. Technical and Industrial Training.

All technical and industrial institutions and industrial training institutes and courses leading up to the diploma standard (non-University) are controlled by the Department of Technical Education, Maharashtra State, Bombay. Government have set up two different councils for this purpose, viz., (i) the State Council of Technical Education to advise and make recommendations in respect of technical and industrial institutes and courses leading up to diploma standard and (ii) the State Council for Training in Vocational Trades to carry out the policy of the National Council with regard to the award of National Trade Certificates in engineering, building and leather trade and any other similar trade as may be brought within its scope by the Central or the State Government.

The Board of Technical Examinations conducts the annual examinations in the courses approved by the State Council of Technical Education and awards certificates or diplomas as the case may be to the successful candidates.

There is only one institution imparting technical education to the students who have passed the matriculation or equivalent examination or who have offered technical group in the high school standard are admitted in the institution. The total number of students attending the institution in 1966-67 was 280. Training in the various technical courses such as fitter, machinist, turner, welder, electrician, carpenter etc. is given in this institution.

There is also one Rural Institute located at Wardha which is administered by a private body. The institution imparts training to those who have passed their matriculation or other equivalent examination and offers diploma in civil engineering to the successful candidates after 3 years of training. In the year 1966-67, 60 students were on the roll of this institution.

Adult Literacy.

In the Post-Independence period various district-wide efforts were undertaken to remove illiteracy prevalent among the adults. The scheme of adult literacy started in 1948. Since the implementation of the scheme 50 to 60 classes are undertaken every year for the same. There are 63 libraries in the district for the newly literated adults, the total membership of the libraries being 3,700.

Libraries.

In the district there are public libraries. A library at Arvi viz., Lokmanya Vachanalaya is one of the old famous libraries prevalent in Vidarbha region. In 1955 a district library was opened in the district and has facilitated a large populace. As a result of the implementation of Government scheme of establishing libraries in rural areas, 30 such libraries have been established in the rural areas. Under the Village Library Scheme more than 65 village libraries have started functioning in different villages in the district.

Entertainment.

A decision has also been taken to form an organisation of Kalapathaks and Sanskritik Pathaks which help to provide knowledge alongwith entertainment to the people. Such Kalapathaks and Sanskritik Pathaks have already been formed. These Kalapathaks entertain people with the help of songs, dances, dramas, bhajans, etc.

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