The Total Literacy Campaign (TLC) launched in 1990, has been extended to cover 18 districts including Calcutta and the hill areas of Darjeeling district. About 10 lakh people have involved themselves voluntarily to implement TLC in the State. The first phase of TLC has ended in 13 districts. External evalution of TLC in these districts has established that 79.28 lakh learners achieved literacy norms of Naional Literacy Mission. It is expected that in Calcutta, Darjeeling, Uttar Dinajpur, Dakshin Dinajpur and Malda in these five districts 23.43 lakh learners will become literates. While considerable progress has been made in these districts, but as external evalution has not taken place, actual achievement under TLC in these districts cannot be reported.

In order to assist learners and neo-literates covered under TLC to attain self-learning stage. Post Literacy Campaign (PLC) was introduced in the 13 districts in which TLC has been commpleted. In six districts Burdwan, Birbhum, North 24-Parganas, South 24-Parganas, Midnapore and bankura, the PLC has been completed successfully. In Cooch Behar, Jalpaiguri, Murshidabad, Nadia, Purulia, Hooghly and Howrah districts PLC is continuing. The target under PLC in these districts is 27.71 lakh against which, till the end of December, 1998, 5.48 lakh neo-literates have enrolled.

In the six districts were PLC has been completed, a Continuing Education Programme has been initiated. The objective continue a life-long learning process, which would allow them to attain economic self-sufficiency and also improve the quality of their lives. Progress under Continuing Education (CE) Programme is indicated in the table.

In the last three districts shown in above table Continuing Education Programme projects were sanctioned by the National Literacy Mission Authority only recently.

In order to institutionalise the PLC, the State Government has taken up a programme of establishing Jana Sikha Prasar Bhawan (JSPB) in all the districts of the State. The expectations are that these JSPBs will become the foci of the learning process of all neoliterates in the districts. In 1998-99, it is expected that 18 JSPBs will be constructed in different districts. In 1998-99, it is expected that 18 JSPBs will be constructed in different districts.

In the post literacy stage, it is important that the literates are in a position to develop further their newly acquired capabilities. The State Government is of the view that this can be made possible if suitable libraries are available to the new literates. The State Government has therefore introduced a scheme to set up a literacy corner for the new literates in each of the 341 rural libraries in the State in 1998-99. The State Government has allotted Rs. 25,000 to each rural library in the State for this purpose.

The State Government has also set up a State Literacy Mission Authority (SLMA) in August, 1998. The SLMA, hence-forth, will take all dexisions regarding policy making, planning, execution, monitoring, evaluation of all literacy programmes in the State. SLMA has formulated and approved action plans for all the districts to be implemented during the period from December, 1998 to March 1999.

A scheme of non-formal education programme for children in the age group of 9-14 years who are without schooling or are dropouts is being implemented in the State with the help of Non-Government Organisation (NGOs). At present, 9 NGOs have been submitted to Government of India for approval, of which 3 proposals have received approval so far.

The State Government has also a programme for setting up Adult High Schools for adult learners. There are at present 77 Adult High Schools in the State. The State Government has taken steps to revamp the existing Adult High Schools and set up new Adult High Schools, specially in the districts where Continuing Education Programme is being implemented.

As was stated earlier, alongwith mass literacy campaigns and non-formal education, the State Government has continued to expand the schooling facilities available in the State, specially at the primary stage. The number of schools at the primary stages increased in 1998-99, that at the middle level declined. This decline was because a number of middle level schools were converted into high or higher secondary schools.

The State Government has reiterated the objective of achieving universalisation of primary education by the end of 9^th plan. To this end, along with the setting up of regular schools, an innovative approach has been taken to set up child education centres under the supervision of Panchayats and direct management of village education committees with 75% representation of guardians. Till January, 1999, 762 such centres have already been set up. Lady teachers above the age of 40 ears with required qualifications have been appointed on renewable contract with accountability to the local community.

The State Government has also made special efforts to provide proper educational facilities to the physically handicapped students. In 1997-98, the State Government sponsored two handicapped schools-Helen Keller Bodhir Vidyamandir in South 24-Parganas for the hearing handicapped and Anne Sullivan School for mentally retarded in Hooghly. In the same year, the State Government recognised 6 handicapped institutions, upgraded 3 institutions to Class X standard, provided financial assistance for vocational training to 3 schools, provided grants grants in aid for training, equipments and furniture to 5 schools and helped 5 schools in construction/repair of school and hostel buildings. Another 10 schools were given financial aid for purchasing Braille books. In 1998-99, the State Government has sactioned funds for the construction/repair of hostels/buildings in 5 schools, for buying furniture and special equipments to 4 schools and maintenance grant has been given to 4 schools.

The State Government is about to finalise a scheme to provide scholarships to handicapped students studying in regular schools (Class IX onwards), colleges and universities.

The public library system in the State is being strengthened. The public library system at present consist of 11 Government libraries with the State Central Library at the apex and 2424 libraries, of which 18 are District Libraries, 236 are Town Libraries and Rural Libraries.

Barasat Government District Library, Sidhu-Kanu Birsha Government Town Library at Ajodhya Hills in Purulia district and the new Town Library at Saidabad in Berhampore have become functional. In 1998-99, the State Government sanctioned grants-in-aid of Rs. 1.71 crore to 50 sponsored libraries.

A scheme on Community library Information Service has been formulated under which in the Gram Panchayats having no public Library, Community Library and Information Centres will be set up with the involvement of Panchayats and managed by local committees.

University Education

In 1997-98, the University Grants Commission agreed to the proposal of the State Government on the introduction of various new courses on emerging areas of science, technology and management. The universities have been asked to generate internal resources to meet their need for funds.

In the Netaji Subhas Open University, enrolment in the distance education system has already started in nine subjects in the B.A. and B.Com. streams.

College Education

Apart from expanding the college education system in the State by setting up new colleges, the State Government has laid special emphasis on the introduction of modern subjects and vocational courses in existing colleges.

The State Government has given approval for the establishment of seven new degree colleges, five of these will be located in the rural areas of the State. The State Government has also accorded administrative approval for the introduction of Honours and Pass courses in new subjects to 149 colleges and the concerned universities have been requested to provide academic affiliation. The new subjects include computer science, electronics, bio-technology, journalism and physical education.

In the existing Government colleges, new subjects in the emerging areas have been introduced. These include ‘Tourism and Travel Management’ and ‘Physical Education’ in Haldia Government College, ‘ Forestry and Wild Life Management’ and ‘Physical Education’ in Darjeeling Government College and ‘Physical Education’ in Jhargram Raj College. A Master’s degree course in Visual Arts (MVA) has been introduced in the Government College of Art and Crafts. Approval for the introduction of Honours course in Psychology has also been given to Bethune College.

Technical Education

At present there are eight engineering colleges in the State. During the last year, five private engineering colleges were set up in the State; these colleges will have courses on computer engineering, information technology, electronics and other subjects relevant to the emerging needs of a modern economy. In 1998-99, it is expected that with the State Government’s encouragement, at least five more private engineering colleges and one private management college will be established in the State. The University of Burdwan also proposes to introduce engineering courses soon.

The State Government is continuing to provide financial assistance to the All-India Institute of Social Welfare and Business Management and other such institutions providing professional courses.

Social Education