(d) Town and Country Planning and Housing
The town and country planning plays a vital role in the planned development
of urban and rural areas. its objectives are both aesthetic and utilitarian.
The planning aims not only at the balanced growth of the towns and the country side, but also promote their growth. It
seeks to tackle the problems of planned development by two principal measures,
viz. by planning the vacant areas in and
around towns, so as to ensure an increased supply of building plots of
residences, industries, commerce, and
institutions and by planning to improve the living conditions in the old and
congested town areas, widening of roads, provision of parks, slum clearance,
removal of congestion, etc.
The
Firozpur District was covered by the town and country planning programme with
the opening of the office of the
Divisional Town Planner at Ferozpur on 16 April 1970, with his jurisdiction
over the districts of Firozpur and Bathinda. This office has undertaken the
preparation of schemes of land acquisition and development by the Government as
well as by the local bodies with a view
to providing building plots for houses,
new grain markets, master plans for towns, model village plans, crash housing
schemes for villages and for different localities are being designed.
EDUCATION AND
CULTURE
(a)
Historical
Background
There is no historical record or evidence, bearing testimony to the
existence of any famous centre of learning in ancient or medieval period in the
District. Before the advent of the British, education was merely a private
concern. It was imparted through some Pathshalas or madrassas, existing in large villages and towns. Urdu
was the medium of instruction in the schools. This was also the official script used in the courts and for maintaining revenue records. The main object
of education in those days appears to have been religious. In some villages,
mostly populated by the Sikhs, the Gumukhi script was taught in the
schools, and in dharmshalas, religious
instruction was imparted. The primary object of all education at that time was
to train the students in the performance of religious duties in the prescribed
manner.
With a view to promoting and
spreading learning among the masses, the personal and religious character of
education was maintained in the District throughout that period. There were
three systems of educations, viz. the Brahmin system, which became obsolete and
rare, the Muslim system, which taught Arabic, Persian and Urdu in maktabs and
mosques, and the Sikh System which taught Punjabi in the Gurmukhi script. The Pandits and maulvis taught their
religious books to the children in the temples and mosques and imparted only
religious instruction. Individual teaching also existed, especially among the
higher classes. It was looked upon as a family process. The simple land or
mahajan script was also taught in homes or at shops. Schools in public places ,
such as mosques, temples and gurudwaras were known as public schools. They were
patronized by the community to which they belonged. They were given rent-free
land, a certain quantity of grain per plough, some allowances in the form of
aatta (wheat flour), food or cash for reading prayers or for performing
religious ceremonies. Some of them also got jagirs or rent-free land from the
State.
In the second half of the nineteenth century, regular primary schools were opened in the District. A primary
school at Dharmkot (Zira Tehsil) was started in 1863 and it was elevated to a
middle school in 1871. A primary school at Mahrana (Mahorajpur) Fazilka Tehsil)
was started in 1875 and it was raised to the middle standard in 1878. Later on,
on the English Pattern, primary schools were opened at Firozpur, Zira and Ratta
Khrera (Fazilka Tehsil). These school were recoginzed by the Punjab Education
Department and a uniform sylabus
comprising the teaching of Persian, Urdu, Arthmetic and Algebra was
prescribed was prescribed.
The education of women and under privileged classes was generally neglected, and it made very little progress before the advent of
the British. The people of the under privileged classes, such as Jhiwars, Bazigars,
Rai Sikh, Harijans and other backward
classes formed the labour classes and had no time for going to school.
The constitution of the Punjab Education Department in 1856 started a
new era in the history of Western
education in India and new schools and colleges were established in the
District. In 1860, the control of all the
vernacular schools in the Panjab was entrusted to the deputy commissioners and tehsildars. But this arrangement
failed to provide for the professional
supervision of the schools and it was soon found necessary to appoint an
inspector in each district as the Deputy Commissioner’s executive agent and
adviser in the management of schools. In the same year, provision was made for
levying school fees. Superior Anglo-vernacular Zila (district) school were also
established, and the personnel and curriculum in all schools improved. In
1868-70, the status of village schoolmaster was improved. The minimum salary
was fixed at Rs. 10 per month. But funds ran short, and a result, a number of schools were closed. The
decentralization of finance in 1871, however, enabled the Provincial Government
to devote more adequate funds to education, and the number of village schools
rose reapidly and their efficiency improved.
In the beginning of 1886-87, the control of departmental schools of all
grades in the Panjab was transferred to the district boards and municipal
committees. The only schools retained by the Education Department were the
schools for Europeans, the practicing schools
attached to training institutions and a few special schools.
English education was confined to special classes of society in the
urban areas. The reactionary sections of the society reacted to the Western
type of education, especially in the case of girls. The conservative Indian
society was loath to send girls to schools. But, gradually, it began to be
looked with favour in higher circles of
society. It profoundly influenced the people of higher families and they began
to copy the Western fashion, culture and manners.
The passage of the Punjab Education
Act, 1918, and the Compulsory Education Act, 1919, gave a fillip to primary
education in the District. The number
of primary schools was increased. Moreover, many schools were upgraded to middle
and high schools.
Besides all these
institutions, a number of other schools were subsequently opened in the
District. The Dev Samaj, the Arya Samaj, the Santan Dharm Sabha and other
organizations have played a vital role in the field of education among the people. Ever since the beginning
of the present century, education among the masses has been on the increase.
The number of schools, students and teachers is showing an upward trend
according to the needs of the people. the Dev Samaj college for Women and the
Sikh Kanya Maha Vidyala at the Firozpur City are father old institutions in the
District and enjoy a good reputation.
Literacy and
Education Standards
There was a time when, educationally, Friozpur
was considered to be the most backward district. However, since the partition
of the country in 1947, with the opening of many new primary, middle and high
schools and colleges, the District has made a good deal of leeway in the field
of education. In 1971, the literacy percentage in the Firozpur District
was 27.36 in contrast with 33.7 per
cent for the State and 34 per cent for the country. Further, the literacy
percentage was 34.3 in the case of males in contrast with 19.4 in the case of
females, in the Firozpur District in 1971.
With the progressive
a wakening among the masses, there is an increasing demand for more and more of
schools from all quarters, especially from the rural areas. The parents seem to
be eager that their children should be provided with proper facilities for education. There is also a strong urge
among the people for giving education to the girls.
The following table shows the progress of school education in the
Firozpur District from 1973-74 to
1978-79 :
Serial Type of Schools 1973-74
1974-75 1975-76 1976-77
1977-78 978-79
No.
1 Primary Schools
849 903
927 927 1,129 1,128
2 Middle
Schools 118 135 143 155
161 147
3 High/Higher
Secondary
Schools 91 92 93 100 107 121
--------------------------------------------------------------------- Total 1,058 1,130 1,163
1,172 1,379 1,396
--------------------------------------------------------------------
(Source :District Education Officer, Firozpur and Statistical Abstract
of Punjab, 1980)
Though the main responsibility for
providing the people with educational facilities rests on the State , yet the
various educational societies, mission and philanthropic endowments are also
rendering valuable service to the people in the field of education in the
District. Those important among such societies
are briefly mentioned below :
Educational Societies
Rendering Service in the Field
of Education
Christian
Missions :- The Christian missionaries have done a
pioneer work in the field of education in the District. The Mission Training School for Village Teachers was
originally started at Firozpur in 1908, but was shifted to Moga in 1911. The
cost of its building was met from the subscription raised in America.
Dev
Samaj :- The society has also done excellent work in the
spread of education and social uplift
of women in the District through its various institutions. The schools and
colleges run under its management are the oldest institutions in the District.
Dev Samaj runs the following institutions in the
District :-
(h)
Dev Samaj college for Women, Firozpur.
(i)
Dev Samaj College of Education for Women, Firozpur City.
(ii)
Dev Samaj Girls High School, Firozpur .
(iii)
Dev Samaj Girls
Middle School, Ferozeshah.
(3)Arya Samaj :- The Arya Samaj has
been playing a vital role in the educational, social and religious spheres.
There Arya Samaj Orphanage, Firozpur, founded in 1878, has three boarding
houses, one each for boys, girls and
widows.
The Arya Samaj caters for the
long-felt need of the people for higher education and runs the following
schools and colleges in the District :
(i)
D.A.V. College for Women, Firozpur.
(ii)
Arya Girls Higher Secondary School, Firozpur Cantonment
(4) Sanatan
Dharam Sabha :- This
society is also rendering useful service to the people in the sphere of
education in the District. It is running the follwing institution :-
(i)
S.D. Higher Secondary, Firizpur City.
(ii)
Hindu Girls Higher Secondary School, Ferozpur
(iii)
S.D. High School, Fazilka
(1)
Sikh Kanya Maha Vidhala Management, Firozpur City :- In 1883, Bhai Takhat Sing
started a girls school in the Firozpur
City. It was the first institution of its kind in the District. The institution
has been doing useful service to the people by spreading female education. It
is provided with a boarding-house.
(2)
Harbhagwan
Management Society , Firozpur City :- In order to perpetuate the memory of the Lala Mahrbhagwan
Memorial School, Firozpur was founded
in 1897 by Raj Gopi Mal, Honorary Magistrate. Attached to the school is
a boarding-house and there is a separate building for primary classes inside
the City. The trust is running the following educational institutions in the
Firozpur City :
(i)
H.M. Higher Secondary School, Firozpur.
(ii)
H.M. Model School, Firozpur.
(7) Guru Nanak Education Society, Firozpur
:- This society has also been playing
a vital role in the spread of education. Guru Nanak College is being run by
this Society at the Firozpur Cantonment.
Besides the above, there are
some other societies in the District, running various schools and colleges.
Women’s Education :
In the past, the education of women was generally neglected and it made
very little progress before the advent of the British. This neglect was mainly
due to the apathy of the people towards girls’ education owing to social and
religious conservatism, the custom of early marriage and domestic duties. The
rarity of girls schools in the District and the want of competent and trained
women-teachers further impeded the progress in this sphere . it was in 1883
that the first girls’ school in the District, namely the Sikh Kanya Maha
Vidyala, was started at Firozpur by Bhai Takhat Singh. to begin with ,it was an
Anglo-vernacular middle school, but was raised to a high school in 1911.
It was after the partition of the
country in 1947 that the progress of women’s education was accelerated. The
various educational societies, viz. Dev Samaj, Arya Samaj, Sanatan Dharam Sabha
and the Christian Mission established a number of girls’ schools at various
places. The Dev Samaj College for Women, Firozpur City, was established as
early as 1934. Backwardness with respect to women’s education still prevails in
the rural areas of the District because the parents do not like to send their
young girls to schools and colleges situated far away from their homes. They are also averse to co-education in the
schools. however, the introduction of
compulsory primary education has mitigated the evil at the primary stage. The people have also become
conscious of the benefits of education and have started sending girls to
schools. The District has made rapid progress in the field of women’s education
during the Five-Year-Plans.
As on 30 September 1979, there were
14 middle and 14 high schools, wholly for girls in the District. However, the
girls have also facilities for studying in co-educational schools, which are
numerous. Approximately 95 thousand girls were studying in the schools of
the District on 20 September 1979. The
college education has also received an
impetus among the women of the District of this District. There are 3 colleges
separately for women in the District. There
is also one training college for
women in the Firozpur City. Besides, there are 7 co-educational colleges which
also impart higher education to women .Unlike in the previous decade, the
education of women is progressing at a good pace in the District.
Education of
Scheduled Castes and Backward Classes
There are no special schools for the education of the Scheduled Castes
and backward Classes in the District. They have been offered many inducements
by the State Government with respect to education. The Scheduled Castes and the
Backward Classes, mostly the Rai Sikhs and Mazhibs, inhabiting the rural areas
of the District, are still not much enthusiastic about education. However,
owing to vigorous propaganda carried on by the teachers and the inspecting
staff in the District, and because of the educational facilities provided by
the Government, the number of students, belonging to these communities, is on
the increase from year to year.
The introduction of free compulsory
primary education had a salutary effect
on these classes. Education is free up to the middle standard in all
Government and state-sponsored schools.
Free books, stipends and scholarships are awarded to the students belonging to
these classes in all institutions, including colleges under the various schemes
sponsored by the State Government and the Union Government. Even the admission
fee for different examinations is reimbursed to the students. Besides, books
and clothes are given free to the poor and needy students out of the School Red
Cross Fund.
The
financial assistance given to the students belonging to the Scheduled
Castes and Backward Classes in the District, during 1973-74 to 1979-80, is
given below :
Year Stipends Number
of students
Rs. benefited
1973-74 2,07,876 3,650
1974-75 2,29,905 5,568
1975-76 2,26,357 5,786
1976-77 24,94,942 21,812
1977-78 19,22,783 24,720
1978-79 19,58,231 27,983
1979-80 20,50,000 25,852
(Source
: District Education Officer, Firozpur)
The following table shows the number
of students belonging to the Schedules Castes and Backward Classes
studying in different schools in the District on 30 September 1979
:
Number of students Number of students
belonging to the belonging to the
Scheduled Castes
Backward Classes
Type of
Institution
--------------------------------------------------------------- Boys
Girls Total Boys Girls
Total
Primary Schools
20,263 13,939 34,202
29,800 21,921 51,721
Middle Schools 1,3,12 532 1,844 2,989 1,133 4,1,22
High/Higher 31,55 1,108 4,263 7,957 2,340 10,297
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
(Source : District Education
Officer, Firozpur)
Medium
of Instructions :- In order to solve
the language problem in the State, the Government evolved a formula designed to
satisfy all sections of opinion. The
Sachar Formula and the PEPSU Formula, which have been in force in Punjab
since 1949 and 1954, respectively were replaced by the Three Language Formula
on 2 July 1969. Under this new formula, Punjabi is taught as first language and
as the medium of instruction in all
government schools in the State. The teaching of Hindi is compulsory
from the fourth primary class onwards, and English is taught as the third
compulsory language from the sixth class. Privately managed schools have been given the option to retain Punjabi
or Hindi as the medium of instruction,
but such schools as opt for Hindi will
be required to teach Punjabi as a
compulsory language. The solution, while ensuring compulsory instruction in the
Punjabi in all the schools in the State, also enables the Hindi-medium schools
to continue teaching through that medium. It also ensures that the entire school-going population in the State becomes
conversant with both the languages and also with English which is an
international language.
Educational Set-up :- Before the reorganization of
the educational set-up in 1963, there were separate agencies for the control
of schools for boys and girls in the
District. The schools for boys up to the middle standard were controlled by the
District Inspector of Schools and the middle schools for girls by the District
Inspectress of Schools. They were assisted by assistant district inspectors or
inspectresses in regard to the control of the primary schools. The high and higher secondary schools for
boys and girls in the District were
controlled by the Divisional Inspector or Inspectress of Schools Jalandhar,
respectively. But with effect from 1 April 1978, the Primary Wing has been
separated. Now the District Education Officer is controlling and supervising
all middle, high and higher secondary educational institutions both for boys
and girls in the District. The primary schools are looked after by the Deputy
District Education Office (Primary) and primary block education offices. The
District Education Officer is assisted by three deputy education offices, one
of whom is a woman and one Deputy District Education Officer (Primary). The
District Education Officer is under the supervisory control of the Circle
Education Officer (Women) in matters relating to the women-teachers. The Deputy
District Education Officer (Primary) deals directly with the Director of Public
Instruction (Primary).
The Deputy District Education
Officer (Primary) is assisted by 22 Primary block education officers (including
8 women) in the District, whose area of operation generally consists of one
educational block. Each primary block education officer supervises and controls the primary schools in his block. In
addition to the above supervisory staff, an assistant education officer
(sports) assists the District Education Officer in the promotion of physical education in the schools.
At the ministerial level, the
establishment, accounts, examination and general branches function under the
general supervision of a superintendent, who is responsible to the District
Education Officer for general administration and for the working of the District Education Office.
(b)
General Education
Pre-Primary Schools :- The problem of pre-Primary education is of great interest
and importance. It promotes physical, mental, emotional and social growth of
children between the ages of three and six. The aim of this education is to
create a healthy social environment in
which the child may develop his physique and intellect. The main object of such
education at this stage is to provide healthy conditions for the young children and to give them
social experience rather than formal instruction.
The pre-primary education in the
District is not much organized. the people are, however, becoming conscious of
the psychological needs of the children. Some voluntary organizations and
individuals have started private schools to meet the requirements of small children.
Primary and Basic Schools :-
Free and compulsory primary education was started in the Punjab State
during the Third-Five-Year Plan for the age group of 6-7 in 1961-62, and was
extended to the age-group of 7-8 years in 1962-63 to that of 9-9 years in
1963-64, to that of 9-10 years in 1964-65, and to that of 10-11 years in
1965-66. The total number of pre-primary/primary/J.B.T. schools in the District
was 811 on 15 May, 1973 and the number rose to 1,185 on 30 September, 1979. The
number of students on the rolls in all types of primary schools in the District
was 1,75,000 on 30 September 1979. The teachers are entrusted with the teaching
the classes in all the subjects in the primary schools and in the primary
sections of the middle/high/higher secondary schools in the District. The
number of students in a section of a primary school is about 30. Most of the
primary school teachers are basic-trained. The number of teachers in the
primary schools, as it stood on 30 September 1979, was 3,590 (1,620 males and
1,970 females).
Another noteworthy feature of the primary and basic education is that
there has been a tremendous increase in the number of women-teachers during the
last 10 years. There were 1,041 female teachers in contrast with 1,781 male
teachers in the Firozpur District, including the Moga and Muktsar tehsils on 31
March 1970. However, on 30 September 1979, there were 1970 female teachers in
contrast with 1,620 male teacher in the bifurcated district of Firozpur, which
does not include Moga and Muktsar tehsils, now forming part of the Faridkot
District. This situation also indicates
that there has been a considerable expansion in the field of primary education
during the last decade.
Secondary
Schools :- The growing strength of
students in the primary schools, due to the compulsory primary education,
automatically gives the enrolment drive
to the secondary schools. At he secondary stage, on 30 September, 1979,
there were 121 high/higher secondary schools, and 147 middle schools in the
District. On 30 September 1979, the number of students studying in classes VI
and VIII was 39 thousand, whereas the number of students studying in classes IX
to XI was 17 thousand. The above
comparison illustrates that more than 50 per cent of the students give up their
studies after completing their primary education.
The total number
of teachers (both trained and untrained) in all the higher secondary, high and
middle schools in the District was 2,805 (1,810 males and 995 females) on 30
September 1979. It shows that the ratio of male teachers to the female teachers
is higher in the case of middle/high/higher secondary schools than that in the
primary schools, in which the ratio of female
teachers is higher than that of male teachers. A teacher qualified to
teach a particular subject, takes different classes in that very subject.
Generally, there are 50 students in a class, and as soon as the number goes up,
the class is divided into sections.
Higher
Education :- From the educational point
of view, the Firozpur District is comparatively a backward district in the
State. Before the foundation of R.S.D. College, Firozpur, in 1921, there was no
college in the District. However, there
was a number of primary and secondary schools. The students had to go to Lahore
or Delhi for higher education. Subsequently, the Dev Samaj College for Women,
Firozpur , was started in 1934.
Thereafter, several other colleges offering higher education were started from
time to time. The colleges, functioning in 1979-80 are given below :
1.
R.S.D. College, Firozpur City.
2.
Dev Samaj College for Women, Firozpur City.
3.
Dev Samaj College of Education for Women, Firozpur City.
4.
D.A.V. College for Women, Firozpur Cantonment .
Guru Nanak Dev College, Firozpur Cantonment
5.
M.R. College, Fazilka
6.
D.A.V. College of Education, Abohar.
7.
D.A.V. College, Abohar.
8.
Gopi Chand Arya Mahila College, Abohar.
9.
Arjan Dass College, Dharamkot.
10.
Government College, Zira.
Of these, 4 colleges are meant
only for women, whereas the remaining 7
are co-educational institutions. All these colleges are affiliated to the
Panjab University, Chandigarh.
(1) R.S.D. College, Firozpur
City :- This college was
established as far back as 1921 by the late Rai Sahib Lala Gowardhan Das in the
memory of his father, Lala Ram Sukh Dass, an eminent lawyer and Philanthropist
of the City. With the opening of this college, a long-felt need of this region was met. It was raised to the
degree standard in 1932 and the F.Sc. (Medical and Non-Medical) classes were
started in it in 1941. The college imparts instruction in the Pre-University
(the Humanities and Science Groups), Pre-Medical, Pre-Engineering, Three-Year
Degree Course in B.A. & B.Sc., M.A. (English and History) and evening
classes for Pre-University and B.A. (Three-Year Degree Course). The college is
housed in a grand building, with a well-equipped library, reading-rooms,
laboratories, hostel and extensive playgrounds. It is a co-educational
institution and the number of students on its rolls was 1,118 on 31 March 1980.
(2) Dev Samaj College for
Women, Firozpur City :- Formerly
known as Dev Samaj girls Higher Secondary School, this institution was started
in 1934 in response to the demand from the public. In 1942, it became a
full-fledged degree college affiliated to the Panjab University. Science
classes were started in 1960. The College owns its establishment and continued
growth to the munificence of Dev Samaj which has devoted itself to the social,
moral and spiritual uplift of the people, especially with respect to the
women’s education extending over the
last three quarters of a centuary. The College imparts instruction in the
Pre-University (the Humanities Group and the Science Group); Pre-Medical
Pre-Engineering; T.D.C. (B.A & B.Sc.) ; BA Hon. in English, Philosophy,
Hindi Mathematics and Sociology, M.A. in Philosophy, English, History, Hindi
and Punjabi.
The College is situated inside the Banns Gate on the
Circulars Road in a healthy locality of the City. Housed in a spacious
building, it has well-equipped laboratories, a library a reading-room, an
auditorium, extensive playgrounds and a very
commodious and airy hostel. Arrangements for games and N.C.C. training
exist. There were 1,034 students on the rolls in this college on 31 March 1980.
(3) Guru Nank College, Firozupr
Cantonment :- This college was
founded in 1971 by Guru Nanak Dev Education Society, Firozpur, to commemorate
the quincentenary of Guru Nanak Dev.
The College is centrally located, being near the Firozpur Cantonment Railway
Station. It prepares students in arts
and science up to the degree level. There were 320 students on the rolls of
this college during 1979-80.
(4) D.A.V. College for Women,
Firozpur Cantonment :- Owing to the
urgency of having a college for girls in the Cantonment area, and encouraged by
the generous residents of the area, the Management of the D.A.V. Girls High
Secondary School, Firozpur Cantonment, came forward to take up this matter. The
school started college classes with effect from 1969 on a purely private basis.
The College is affiliated to the Punjab University. It prepares students for
the Arts Group only. The number of students on the rolls of the College was 185
on 31 March 1980.
(5) Government College, Zira :-
This College was set up in 1971. It is located at a distance of 2 km
from the Zira Town on the road from Zira, leading to the Village of Sunehr. It
prepares students in arts from the Pre-University to the degree level. There
were 221 studens on the rolls of the College during 1980-81.
(6) Arjan Das College, Dharamkot :- This
College was established in 1971 in the memory of the late Shri Arjan Das, and eminent philanthropist
and landlord of Dharamkot. The College was started in 1971 as a college only
for women, but it has now become a co-educational institute. During the year of
its inception, 42 girls were enrolled. The College prepares the students for
the Pre-University & B.A. (Part 1, II & III) courses.
During 1979-80, there were 356 students on the rolls of the College.
(7) M.R. College, Fazilka :- The College was established in 1940 as the
result of the great generosity of Lala Munshi Ram Aggarwal of Fazilka. To begin
with, it was raised to the degree standard. Co-educational was introduced into
the College in 1949, F.Sc. (Non-Medical) in 1951, Hons. in Hindi in 1963,
Pre-University Medical Group and Pre-Medical Group in 1966 Botany and Zoology
for B.Sc., Parts II, III in 1968, and
Honors in English and History in 1969-70. The College has a large
building and a decent hostel for men students. It has extensive playgrounds and
a library and reading-room. The College had 813 students on its rolls on 31
March 1980.
(8)
D.A.V. College,
Abohar :- The College was founded in April, 1960 by the D.A.V. Collage Managing Committee, New
Delhi. It prepares students for the Pre-University and There-Year Degree Course
in Arts and Sciences. The College has both N.C.C., Boys Wing girls. The number
of students on the rolls of the College was 1,28 on 31 March 1980.
(9)
Gopi Chand Arya
Mahila College, Abohar :- The College was started in 1972 in the memory of
the late Seth Gopi Chand Ahuja of Abohar, a leading businessman and landlord.
It is managed by the D.A.V. College Managing Committee, New Delhi. It prepares
students in Arts and Sciences from the Pre-University to the degree level. On
31 March 1980, there were 589 students on the rolls of the College.
(c)
Professional and
Technical Education
Teacher Training
Institutions for training teachers are
a prerequisite for the expansion and spread of education. The following
colleges in the District prepare students for the teachers training
degrees/diplomas :
Sr. No. Name of Institution Degree/Diploma
awarded During
of course
1 Dev
Samaj College of B.Ed. and M.Ed 1 year
Education
for Women each
Firozpur
2. D.A.V.
College of Edu- B.Ed. 1
year
cation, Abohar.
Of these, the first is meant
only for women, whereas the other is a co-educational institution. Both these
institutes are affiliated to the Punjab
University, Chandigarh.
Dev Samaj College of
Education for Women, Firozpur :- Started
in 1943, the college offers training facilities for B.Ed. and M.Ed.
degrees of the Panjab University. It is the oldest training, institution in the
State and has rendered meritorious service to the training of women
teachers. The College owes its establishment and continued growth to the munificence of the Dev Samaj which has devoted itself to the social, moral and spiritual uplift of the people,
especially the promotion of women’s
education. In 1948, J.S.T.C. was started in the College, but is was
later on changed to J.B.T. M.Ed. classes were started in 1969.
The college building comprises commodious
classrooms, arts and crafted rooms and laboratories, library, a reading room ,
and an auditorium-cum-recreational hall. There are extensive playgrounds for
basketball, hockey, badminton, throw-ball, etc. in the College. Residential
quarters for the staff are also provided on the premises of the College. On 31 March 1980, the number of students for
the B.Ed. and M.Ed. classes was 253 and
13 respectively.
(1)
D.A.V. College of
Education, Abohar :- Started in
July 1968, the College is affiliated to the Punjab University, Chandigarh, for
the B.Ed. course. It provides ample opportunity for extra curricular
activities, games, educational tours,
hobbies, science practicals and library. There were 245 students on the rolls
of the College during 1980.
Medical Education
There is no institution for imparting medical education
in the District;
Technical
Education :-
With a view
to imparting technical education, the directorate of Technical Education and
Industries, Punjab, Chandigarh, runs a number of technical
colleges/institutions and industrial training centres/institutes (both for boys and girls) at various places
in the State. The technical colleges and institutes prepare students for the
degree/diploma courses in Civil, Electrical and Mechanical Engineering. In the
industrial training centres/institutes, training is given to the students in
various trades/ crafts, viz. welding, Carpentry, Fitting, Turnery, Blacksmithy,
Stenostaphy, Draftsmanship. the girls are imparted training in tailoring
cutting, embroidery, needlework and knitting with hand and machine. Separate industrial training
centres for the Scheduled Castes and
the Backward Classes are also run by the Industries Department, Punjab,
Chandigarh.
In 1979-80, the
District had the following institutions in the field of engineering and
technical education :
1.
Government Industrial Training Institute, Firozpur.
2.
Government Industrial Training
School for Girls, Firozpur.
3.
Sea Sadan Industrial School for Girls, Firozpur.
4.
Government Industrial School for Girls, Dharamkot.
5.
Government Industrial Training School for Girls, Zira
6.
Government Industrial Training Institute, Fazilka.
Of these, 4 schools are meant for girls, whereas the remaining
2 for boys.
(d)
Physical Education
In the Punjab, Physical Education is imparted as a compulsory subject
in middle and secondary schools. It aims at making a child physically fit,
mentally alert and morally sound. Due consideration is, therefore, given to the
promotion of Physical Education in schools and
colleges. it has been made a part of recreational activities included in
the school time-table. it is conducted in primary and middle schools by the
J.B.T. teachers , who are give n special training in Physical Education.
Refresher courses for teaches in Physical are also held from time to time. In
high and higher secondary schools, physical training instructors of the
National Discipline scheme impart training in Physical Education. in the
colleges, the training is directed and
guided by the Physical directors and it is obligatory on every student
to attend a certain number of periods in Physical Education.
The Assistant Education Officer for Physical Education, Firozpur, helps
the District Education Officer to promote Physical Education in the District.
he supervises and guides Physical Education in the schools. Inter school
tournaments and special reallised are organized at various places in the
District. There is also a provision for medical inspection in the schools, and the students, with physical defects are
give the necessary treatment.
Also, the following schemes, under separate departments promoted
physical education :
1.
1. Promotion of Sports Games
by the State Sports Department
2.
2. National Cadet Corps
3.
3. Bharat Scouts and Guides
4. National
Service Scheme, sponsored by the Government of India.
(1) Promotion of Sports and Games :- The Sports Department was established in
1960 for promoting sports and games in
the State. It is represented at the district level by the District Sports
Officer, Firozpur, who is under the administrative control of the Divisional
Sports Officer, Jalandhar. The District Sports Officer is assisted by 3 sports
officers and 5 junior sports officers, besides ministerial and class IV staff.
With the merger of the Sports Department into the Education Department
in November 1966, the scope of the activities of the former increased manifold
.
The main
functions of the District Sports Officer are to assist them Panchayt officer in organizing and
running Panchayat tournaments at the
block level, to establish sports club at block headquarters and in the villages
to organize intervillage competitions,
to select suitable sites for
constructing playgrounds and to discover sports talents from among the
villagers and students by holding coaching-camps in schools and tournaments at
the district level. The Sports Department runs one coaching centre at Firozpur
and tow coaching centres , one each at Abohar and Fazilka.
Besides, there are following
associations which promote games and sports in the District :
1. The District Olympic
Association, Firozpur
1.
2. The District Table-Tennis
Association, Firozpur.
2.
3. The District Volley-ball
Association, Firozpur
3.
4. The District basket-Ball Association,
Firozpur.
4.
5. The District Football
Association, Firozpur.
(2)
National Cadet
Corps :- The National Cadet Corps (N.C.C.) is the biggest and the most
significant youth movement in the country. This scheme was introduced into the
State in 1940 with a view to keeping the students Physically fit and
inculcating in them the spirit of service and dignity of labour. The aims of
the scheme are to develop character, comradeship, the ideal of service and
capacity for leadership in young men
and women, to give service training to young men and women so as to
stimulate interest in the defence of
country, and to build up a reserve of manpower to enable the Armed Forces to
expand rapidly in a national emergency.
The cadets are imparted training in military subjects, viz., filed
craft, rifle-firing, map reading, foot-drill, civil defence, etc. Girls are
given training in first aid, operating
telephones, telegraph and wireless. Senior
and junior division cadets are organized into units, each commanded by a regular Army major or an officer of
equivalent rank in the Air Force. The
cadets also attend an annual training camp, which lasts for about 10
days.
The number of students on the rolls
in the National Cadet Corps in the District on 31 March 1980 was as under :-
Boys Girls Total
Senior
Division 400
-- 400
Junior
Division 619
-- 619
(3)
Bharat Scouts and
Guides :- The Bharat Scouts and Guides is a movement of national, international
and universal character. Its aim is to provide the scouts and guides with
opportunities for developing those qualities of character which make a ‘good
cities’ a man of honour,
self-discipline and self-reliance, willing and able to serve the community.
The Firozpur District Association of Boy Scouts and
Girls Guides came into being in 1920 as separate units. These associations did
well in forming scout troops/guide companies in the whole District. Up to 1950, the girls guide Association was functioning
quite separately. On 7 November 1950, the Association and the Hindustan Scouts
Association were amalgamated at the National level.
The District Commissioner, assisted by 2 assistant
district commissioners, is in charge of the movement in the District. The
District Association is participating in all the scout guide activities at the
State as well as at the national level. Two of its schools, viz. the Government
High School, Khui Khera and the Government High School, Mamdot won the Prime
Minister’s shields in the national level
competition.
The strength of the
scouts and guides in the District on 31 March 1980 was as under :
Scouts 2600 Guides 1,050
Cubs
800 Bulbuls
560
Scoutmasters
117 Guide
Captains 98
Cubs masters 81 Flock
leaders 62
Lady
cubmasters 22
Group
leaders (scouts) 50 Group Leader 40
(Guides)
(Source : State Secretary, Bharat Scouts and Guides, Punjab,
Chandigarh.
(4) National
Service Scheme :- The National
Service Scheme, originally contemplated as an alternative to the NCC and the
NsO, to cover all university student s was started during the Fourth Plan as a
Pilot scheme by selecting college students on a voluntary and selective basis.
Its object is to enable the students to participate, during their studies leading to the first degree, in various
programmes of social service and national development to help the community and
at the same time to provide them with
an opportunity to understand and appreciate the conditions and problems of the community and inculcate in
them a sense of social consciousness and dignity of labour, thus leading to a
fuller and more balanced development of the personality of students.
Participation in the NSS enables the students to discharge at least partially
their social obligations towards the community, bring the educated youth closer
to the community and enables them to contribute to national development.
Under the programme, any
student studying in a college or in a
university, who has opted and is selected for the National Service Scheme is
expected to remain under the programme for an
unbroken period of two years and is required to render social service
for a minimum of 120 hours per annum, besides participating in the special
camps.
The NSS is being
implemented through the universities and colleges and other institutions of
higher learning. The States are also participating financially and
administratively in the operation of the scheme. The Union Ministry of
Education and culture provides policy guidance, co-ordination, and
finances on a sharing basis.
This programme was
launched in the Firozpur District during 1970-71. At present, there are 1,225 NSS volunteers in the colleges of the district. IN the colleges, this
programme is carried on by programme officers under the supervision and control of the respective Principals of the
colleges.
(f) Cultivation of
Fine Arts
There is no regular institution
in the district for imparting training in music, dancing, etc. However, as a
part of their extra-curricular activities, some girls institutions provide
facilities for the cultivation of fine arts –Music (Vocal and Instrumental),
Dancing, Painting, Drawing, Flower-making etc.
(a)
Oriental Schools and Colleges
No such institution exists
in the District.