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The National Council for Women’s Education was set up in 1958. It consists of a
Chairman and 28 members - a representative of each state, a representative of the
Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE), two members of the parliament, two
representatives of the Union Ministry of HRD, a representative of the Union territories,
and a representative from each of the following ministries: Community Development,
Health and Labour.
Coordinating Functions
We have already understood that, the Central Government has a very limited control
over education and the management of public instruction has been entrusted to State
Governments. But the Central Government plays a very important role as a coordinating
agency. Thus it does a number of functions. They may be listed as follows:
1. It fixes a general policy of reconstruction with an All-India outlook, maintain
cultural relations with foreign countries, associations and the UNESCO, and
grants scholarships for Scheduled Caste, Aboriginal and Hill tribes as well as
to overseas students from this country. It also looks after the welfare of Indian
students abroad.
2. The Central Government is a coordinating, advisory and informative agency,
so far as the State Governments are concerned. With the help of the CABE and
the Bureau of Education, it is able to advise and collate for the benefit of the
States, educational experiences derived not only from different parts of the
country but even from abroad. The Bureau publishes educational reports and
statistics of great importance. The Central Government further seeks to discharge
its responsibilities and maintains quality in different fields of education through
the All-India bodies like, NCERT, UGC, CBSE, AICTE, IMC, NCTE, etc.
3. The Central Government is exclusively in charge of education in Union
Territories.
4. It also looks after the Central Universities like, Delhi, Aligarh, Banaras and
Visva-Bharathi.
5. It is in charge of a number of National Institutions, viz., National Institute of
Education, Delhi, Central Institute of English, Hyderabad; Laxmibai College
of Physical Education, Gwalior; Training Centre for Adult Blinds, Dehradoon,
etc.
6. It promotes research through the NCERT.