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Education in British India

Charter Act of 1813

• The Charter Act of 1813 was the first government efforts for the development of Indian education.
• The act provided for an annual expenditure of one lakh ruOes for the revival and promotion of literature and the encouragement of the learned natives of India.

Macaulay’s Minute

In 1835, the education policy of Lord Macaulay was published titled “Minute on Indian Education” in which he advocated , educating Indians through English and also enrich Indian Languages’ so that they become the vehicles of European scientific, historical and literary expression. – Then Governor General Lord William Bentinck accepted the viewpoint of the Macaulay that the government fund should be spent for the promotion of Europeans literature and sci ence through the medium of English languages.

The Macaulay system, was a systematic effort on the part of the British government to educate the upper, class and middle class of India and educated people would spread education to the masses. Thus the ‘downward filtration theory’ was accepted.

Wood’s Dispatch on Education, 1854

In 1854 Sir Wood then president of the Board of Control of Government of India, gave his official report, popularly known as Wood’s Despatch. Major Provisions include — Emphasised on teaching of western education with English as medium of instruction. Also he encouraged the oriental education.

Proposed to setting up of vernacular primary school in village and emphasised on vocational educational. It stressed on women education, teacher training, education for etc.

Universities on the modal of London University were pro posed for Calcutta, Bombay, and Madras.

A separate department of public^, instruction was created in each of five provinces.

• A system of grant in aid to be set up.
• Female education and Muslim education were encouraged.
• Hunter Commission, 1882
• In 1882, the government of India appointed an education commission to enquire into the principles of woods despatch and to make recommendation to the government for necessary changes of education system. Its Main recommendation were —

• It emphasised the states special care for the extension and improvement of primary education and the aims, methods, curriculum and management were clearly defined.
• For secondary education, the principle was laid down there should be two divisions, one, leading up to entrance examination of the university and other preparing students for commercial and vocational careers.
• The commission recommended encouraging private enter prise in the field of education with grant aid system.
• Indigenous education was encouraged.
• The commission mostly confined its remarks to secondary and primary education.

The Sadler University Commission

• In 1917 the government of India appointed a commission to study and report on the problems of Calcutta University. Dr. ME Sadler, was appointed as chairman and so it is known as Sadler University Commission. The following were the main recommendations:

A twelve year school course was recommended. After as sessing the intermediate examination, the students were to enter a university. The commission recommended the set ting up of s board df secondary and intermediate education.

• The duration of the degree course after the intermediate should be limited to three years
• It stressed the need for extension of facilities for female education and facilities for training of teachers was emphasised.
• It emphasised providing teacher training and set up department of education for teacher training.

Hartog Committee

• The rapid expansion of education resulted deteriorating of quality and lowering of standards. There was considerable dissatisfaction with the educational So Hartog committee was appointed to report on the matter.
• The committee emphasised the national importance of primary education, but condemn the policy of hasty expan sion. The committee proposed the introduction of diversified curricula at the secondary level and placed more emphasised on industrial and commercial subject so that student could prepare for practical occupation.
• The commission pointed out the weakness of university education for lower standard.

Wardha Scheme of Basic Education

• Mahatma Gandhi proposed a scheme of education called basic education also known as Wardha scheme. The main principle of basic education was ‘education through activity’.

Zakir Hussain Committee worked out the details of the scheme and prepared detailed syllabi for a number of crafts and made suggestions concerning training of teachers, supervision, examination and administration.

• But the outbreak of the war in 1939 and the resignation of congress ministers led to the postponed of the scheme.

Sergant Plan of Education

The central advisory board of education submitted a report on post war conditions in 1944. Sir John Sergant  was the advisor to the govt. of India

• It recommended the establishment of elementary schools and high school and introduction of universal free and com pulsory education for children between the ages of 6 to 11.

The high schools were to be of two types-academic and technical. The Sergent plan can be regarded as education reconstruction plan for the country.