Education Reforms in British India

Last updated: May 14, 2023

Macaulay Minutes 1835

Downward filtration theory…introduced English language as edu. medium

Woods Despatch 1854

The Woods Despatch 1854 is referred to as the Magna Carta of Indian Education. The following are some of its recommendations (alongwith Vidyasagar’s inputs) which are still followed today:

  1. Rejected downward filtration theory of Macaulay Minutes.Thus Vernacular @ primary edu Anglo-Vernacular @ higher edu English in Universities (->criticized for this by some Indians)
  2. Tri language formula
  3. Estd of Universities
  4. Female Education
  5. Teachers training
  6. Grant-in-aid system
  7. Active Government role in Education for the first time (before this only sparse private and missionary education was there)

Hunter Commission 1882

Lord Ripon…buttressed Woods Despatch, esp. its Vernacularism of primary education

Rayleigh Comm. 1902

Its reco was adopted in the Indian Univ Act 1904. It gave more government control on schools..also Rs 5 lakhs per annum on education (cf.Rs 1 lakh/ann by Charter Act 1813 on edu. “throughout” Br. India ! )

Indian Universities Act 1904

Saddler/Calcutta Univ. Comm. 1917

Earlier only 10th (matric) boards were there before univ…Saddler recoed adding +2 in between (called Intermediate) with separate HS board

Hartog Comm. 1927

Highlighted “massive wastage and stagnation in primary education” ∴ discouraged hasty educational inclusion ∴ only deserving ones should go beyond Class 8 and into college..rest should go for vocational courses

Sargeant Plan 1944

Long term 40 yr plan…recoed RTE from 6-11 years and “High School” from 11-17 years age..after that college without intermediate (didn’t fructify)