SECONDARY EDUCATION COMMISSION (1952-1954)

 INTRODUCTION

 The union government appointed the secondary education commission in 1952, under the chairmanship of Mudaliar and this commission is also known as ‘Mudaliar Commission’. Dr. A.Lakshmanswami Mudaliar was the vice- chancellor of Madras University. This report of secondary Education Commission is truly called as “Bible for teachers” is a landmark in the development of education in India.

 AIMS 

 Development of democratic citizenship.

  Development of personality. 

 Education for leadership. 

 Improvement of vocational capability and efficiency.

 MAIN RECOMMENDATIONS

  Secondary Education should begin after 4 or 5 years of primary education. Middle or senior Basic education should be of 3 years and education at higher stage should be of 4 years.

  Secondary education should be of 7 years. 

 Degree course should be of 3 years.

  Students who passed Pre University should be allowed to enter in professional courses.

 MULTIPURPOSE SCHOOLS

  Multipurpose schools should be established to take care of various abilities of students.

  They should provide terminal courses in Technology, Commerce, Agriculture, Fine arts, and Home science.

  The main aim was to divert the students to different vocations at the end of the secondary education.

 CURRICULUM

  Commission supported flexible curriculum which can be related with interest, need and life of students.

  It should be such that it can train the students for work and leisure both. 

 Productive works should be given importance.

  It should include practical knowledge along with theoretical knowledge.

 STUDY OF LANGUAGES 

 Hindi has been taken as the national language.

  For government services Hindi is compulsory.

  English is compulsory for secondary level. 

 Sanskrit is also included as a third language which is optional. 

MEDIUM OF INSTRUCTION

  The medium of instruction should be mother tongue or regional languages.

  Along with the mother tongue and regional language and a foreign language should also be taught.

 TEXTBOOKS

  Text book should be selected very carefully. There should be a committee for selection and reforms.

  There should be definite standard for printing, cover and front page of the book.

  There should be no such book which spread hatred, enemity against any community, religion or social customs. 

 There should be more than one textbooks for a subject.

 TEACHING METHODS

  Dynamic method of teaching should be followed.

  Activity method, Project method and problem solving method should be given more importance.

 TEACHING STAFF

  Academic and professional qualifications be enhanced. 

 Pre service and in – service training should be improved.

  Teachers should be given better conditions of service, such as attractive salary, pension benefits, provident fund etc.

 LIBRARIES 

 Library should be made the most affective place for students.

  There should be trained librarians in the library. 

GUIDANCE IN EDUCATION 

 There should be appointment of guidance officers and career masters in the schools for educational, personal and vocational guidance. 

 There should be arrangement of film shows, excursions related to various industries.

 EXAMINATION AND EVALUATION

  The number of external examinations should be reduced. 

 There should be only one Public Examination after completion of syllabus.

  Questions should be objective and subjective elements should be reduced.

  Questions should be based on the full syllabus.

  Examiners should be selected cautiously. 

 Final examination should be based on both the internal and external assessment. 

MERITS OF COMMISSION 

 Activity based education. 

 Stress on agricultural education.

  Discussion of aims of secondary education.

  Child- centered education.

  Improvement in teacher’s salary and position.

  Co-curricular activities.

  No more stress on external examinations. 

 Stress on multi-purpose schools.

  Suggestion to open technical schools near industries. 

DEMERITS OF THE COMMISSION 

 The suggestions are given in haste, so problems are still there.

  No new statement regarding the improvement of social and economic conditions of teachers. 

 No suggestion regarding women education. 

 Still stress on English.