Development of education in India during British period

Development of Education during British period

"Education is the most powerful weapon which you can use to change the world"

Nelson Mandela

Britishers from the very beginning felt that it was indispensable to provide minimum education so as to create an enlightened section within the Indian society. Moreover, the Britishers also needed employees who can understand Hindu as well as Muslim laws.

In pursuance of these objectives, Warren Hastings established Calcutta Madarsha. And on the same lines Jonathan Duncan established Sanskrit College at Banaras in 1791 to provide traditional education through Sanskrit language.

In 1800, Wellesley created Civil Services Training Institute at Fort William, Calcutta but it was not approved by the Court of directors. As such the training institute was created Haileybury in England.

By the Charter Act of 1813, ₹1 Lakh was sanctioned by the British parliament for the spread of  education in India but this amount was not made available by 1833 due to the debate regarding the mode of education.

Orientalists favoured education through vernacular language and Anglicist favoured education through English language and modern scientific subjects.

On this question, Lord William Bentick appointed Macaulay Committee which favoured the Anglicist view and recommended that English must be made official language of India by replacing Persia which was enacted on 07 March 1835.

Downward filtration theory (Triclke down theory) 

William Bentick is of the view that masses can't be educated with just ₹1 Lakh and only few Indian could be educated with this small amount. 

And it would be responsibility of the educated Indians to teach the masses in turn.

Woods' dispatch of 1854 

In 1854, Secretary of State Charles Woods gave his famous Woods' dispatch on education. It is considered as 'The Magnacarta of Modern Education in India'.

Recommendations -

1. It recognised that it is the responsibility of the British authority to educate the masses and rejected downward filtration theory.
2. It proposed hierarchy of education, i.e., primary education in vernacular language, high school education in anglo-vernacular language and higher education in English language in presidency towns.
3. As such it recommended the establishment of three universities -
• Bombay university
• Calcutta university
• Madras university
4. It also suggested to create an institute of engineering and technology and an agricultural research institute.
• First engineering college was established at Roorkee.
• The first agricultural research institute was established at Pusa, Bihar.
5. It also called for female education, vocational education and teachers training.
6. Education in public institutes must be secular.

Hunter Commission of 1882 

It was appointed to review the issues related to primary and secondary education. It suggested vernacular medium in primary education and secondary education must be diversified into two types, i.e., Vocational and Literary.

Thomas Raleigh Committee of 1902 

It was constituted by Viceroy Curzon. Its recommendation led to the enactment of Indian University Act 1904 to provide regulatory framework for the Universities in India.

Sadler Commission 1917 

It was constituted to review the functioning of Calcutta University but it benefitted other educational sectors also.

For the first time two Indians were the member of educational commission. They are -

1. Ashutosh Mukherjee (who later became the Vice-Chancellor of Calcutta University)
2. Zia-uddin Ahmad

Recommendations -

1. It observed that secondary education is essential for improvement in university education.
2. It recommended 12 years of schooling and 3 years of degree course.
3. It further suggested to separate board of high school education and intermediate education.
4. It also recommended establishment of new universities for higher education. As such in between 1916 to 1921, 7 new universities were established at Mysore, Patna, Banaras, Lucknow, Aligarh, Dacca and Hyderabad (Osmania).

Hartoyo Commission of 1929 

It recommended that no new educational institutes should be established in India and suggested to bring efficiency in the existing institutes.

Wardha education (Gandhi ji's Scheme of education) 

In 1937, Mahatma Gandhi started Wardha Scheme which was also known as Nai-Taleem whose elaborate syllabus was created by Dr. Zakir Hussain. It promoted education through activity.

Sargent Plan (1944) 

In 1944, this plan was formulated to bring efficiency in higher education through already established universities.

S. Radhakrishnan Committee (1948) 

After independence, S. Radhakrishnan Committee was constituted in 1948. On its recommendation UGC (University Grant Commission) was established in 1953 to regulate universities in India and provide them financial assistance.

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Note - This is my Vision IAS Notes (Vision IAS Class Notes) and Ashutosh Pandey Sir's Public Administration Class notes. I've also added some of the information on my own. 

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