An Empirical Study of Education of Tribals

This book is intended, primarily for educationists, research scholars and educational planners to provide a first hand knowledge, gathered through direct contact and experience, in the field of Tribal Education. It is not, however, meant only for experts or even only for professionals. Its approach is exploratory and its purpose introductory, so it may have something to offer to a much wider range of people.

The present study indicates the problems the tribal children faced in the field of education and the opinions of the personnel viz., the school and college tribal students, tribal parents, responsible and respectable tribal personalities from rural set up and the teachers engaged in the process of educating tribal pupils have been well narrated, supported by facts and figures, so as to bring a clear picture with regard to status of tribal education in Orissa. It discusses in greater details the educational problems of rural areas (villages) predominantly inhabited by tribals and the interaction between the tribals and non-tribals students in the school set up to indicate the status of the tribals in the field of education.

Written in a lucid style the book provides clear suggestions so far as the problems of education of the tribal pupils. It is earnestly hoped that this book will be a very useful source book of reference for the scholars, researchers, educationists and administrators in the field of Tribal Education.

Dr. Subhash Chandra Panda obtained his Bachelor's degree in Science, Master's degree in History and Education and Doctor of Philosophy degree in Education from Utkal University, Vani Vihar, Bhubaneswar. He conducted his research work in the field of Tribal Education under the guidance of Professor of eminence Dr. Biswa Bandhu Chatterjee and earned his Ph.D. degree.

His areas of specialisation have been in the field of 'Education of the Tribals', 'Science Education at the Secondary and Higher Secondary Stage', 'Educational Technology', 'Teacher Education' and 'Educational Administration'.

He has to his credit several research papers in various journals of repute. Dr. Panda has an avid interest and vast field experiences with regard to education and problems of education of the Tribals of India in general and of Orissa in particular. He has to his commendation of presenting papers at State and National level seminars and a book published.

"If you give a man fish, he will eat once.

If you teach a man to fish, he will eat for the rest of his life.

If you are thinking a year ahead, sow seed,

If you are thinking ten years ahead, plant a tree,

If you are thinking a hundred years ahead,

educate the people, By sowing seed, your will harvest once;

By planting a tree, you will harvest tenfold,

By educating the people, you will harvest one hundred fold."

Tagore once observed: "How will the country bear the weight of the idle masses whom learning by rote has crippled for ever? If an atmosphere of unfailing initiative prevails in our educational institutions thus instilling new life into them, we will be sure that fortune is about to smile on our country."

"Today India needs true servants of the people in all fields, especially in Adivasi areas we should destroy the demons of ignorance, poverty, disease etc., and revive the glory of the past. Our glory should express itself in serving the world. We should feel that we are all Indians. Let us attempt to build a new world as servants of Sarvodayas" (Acharya Vinoba Bhave, 1953).

**Contents and Sample Pages**