WARDHA COMMITTEE
In 1938, a committee was set up under the chairmanship of Dr. Zakir
Hussain to implement the recommendations of the Wardha Scheme. The committee submitted its report in 1939.
The report was accepted by the government of India and became the basis for the
development of the national education system in India. Its
primary objective was to develop a comprehensive plan for basic education in
India, aligning with Mahatma Gandhi's vision of an education system that
integrated practical skills with academic learning.
Background:
In October 1937, the All-India National
Education Conference was convened in Wardha, Maharashtra, under Gandhi's
leadership. The conference resolved to provide free and compulsory education
for seven years, using the mother tongue as the medium of instruction, and
centered around manual and productive work. To implement these resolutions, the
Wardha Committee was formed, with Dr. Zakir Husain as its head.
Key Features of the Wardha Scheme:
1.
Free and
Compulsory Education: The scheme
proposed eight years of free and compulsory education for children aged 6 to
14, divided into two stages: five years of junior education and three years of
senior education.
2.
Mother
Tongue as Medium of Instruction:
Emphasizing the importance of cultural identity and better comprehension, the
scheme advocated for education to be imparted in the child's mother tongue.
3.
Craft-Centered
Education: The curriculum was
designed around local crafts and productive work, integrating practical skills
with academic subjects to promote self-reliance and dignity of labor.
4.
Self-Sufficiency: The scheme aimed to make education self-supporting by
having students produce goods through their craft education, the sale of which
would fund the school's operations and teachers' salaries.
5.
Holistic
Development: Beyond academic
knowledge, the scheme focused on the physical, intellectual, and moral
development of students, fostering a sense of citizenship and social
responsibility.
Implementation and Impact:
The Wardha Scheme, also known as Nai Talim or
Basic Education, was adopted by the Indian National Congress in its 1938
Haripura session. The Hindustani Talimi Sangh was established to oversee its
implementation, with Dr. Zakir Husain playing a pivotal role. Despite its
innovative approach, the scheme faced challenges, including opposition from the
Muslim League, which viewed it as an attempt to undermine Muslim culture, and
practical difficulties in integrating craft-based education into the existing
system. Nevertheless, the principles of the Wardha Scheme influenced India's
post-independence educational policies, emphasizing the importance of mother
tongue instruction and vocational training.
For a detailed account, refer to the
"Report of the Wardha Education Committee of the Central Advisory Board of
Education" available at the Internet Archive.
The Zakir Husain Committee's
recommendations for the Wardha Scheme of Basic National Education included:
Education system
The committee proposed a new education system called Nai
Talim, which was based on the principle of learning through activity. The
committee's recommendations included:
·
Curriculum: The curriculum should focus on manual
work and handicrafts, and should be taught in the mother tongue.
·
Education period: The first seven years of schooling
should be free and compulsory.
·
Teacher training: The committee included sections on
teacher training in its report.
·
Examinations: The committee included sections on
examinations in its report.
·
Administration: The committee included sections on
the administration of the proposed education system in its report.
·
Education
methods
The committee recommended that education should
include:
·
Study of plant, animal, and human life in the local area
and other lands
·
Study of weather phenomena
·
Map-study and map-making
·
Study of the means of transport and communication
·
Study of occupations and local agriculture and industry
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