1. Introduction of Wood's Despatch 1854.
Ans: The Despatch of 1854 was one of the great landmarks of the history of Indian Education. East India Company had renewed their charter in the year of 1813, 1833 and 1853. But till 1853 the company was not clear about the education of the Indians.
In the later period as an official step to review educational progress in the country, A select committee was formed by the British Parliament under the chairmanship of Sir Charles Wood for a comprehensive survey of the total field of Indian education and had submitted this report to the British Parliament.
On the basis of the report Charles Wood, a Chairman of the Board of Control for India had sent the official despatch to the East India Company’s Governor General of India Lord Dalhousie for reform Indian education. After that it was popularly known as Wood’s Despatch.
2. Who was the Charles Wood ?
Ans: Charles Wood was the president of the Board of control of the British East India Company.
3. Discuss the importance of Woods Despatch of 1854 in the field of Indian education.
Ans: The major importance of Wood’s Despatch of 1854 are enumerated as the following below :
(i) Educational responsibility by the Government :
The Despatch had said in clear terms that the Government must take educational responsibility of the country.
(ii) Medium of Instruction :
English language should be studied in general system of education. At the same time vernacular languages should also be combined with it.
(iii) Development of Mass-education :
The Despatch was opposed to Downward Filtration Theory and encouraged mass-education and indigenous system in its place.
(iv) Gradation of the Educational Institution :
Educational institutions were suggested to be divided into three grades an university, high schools and primary schools including the indigenous schools in it.
(v) Grant in-aid system :
The Despatch had recommended for giving Govt. grand-in-aid to educational institutions under certain conditions.
(vi) Training of Teachers :
For training of teachers establishment of the training were suggested for the first time in the country.
(vii) Department of Education :
In the five provinces (Bengal, Bombay, Madras, North Western and Punjab) of the Govt. establishment of offices of the DPIs (Director of Public Instruction) were suggested.
(viii) Establishment of the Universities :
It had recommended for the establishment of three universities in the premier cities of the country.
(ix) Employment Faculty :
Educational people were suggested to be given employment under the govt. by the Despatch.
(x) Improvement of Indian Languages :
Writing of the Original books in native Indian languages were emphasised.
(xi) Vocational Education :
The Despatch had given timely attention to improvement of vocational education in the country in order to facilitate giving this education to students.
4. Discuss the merits and demerits of Wood’s Despatch of 1854 in the field of Indian education.
or
What were the effects of Wood’s Despatch of 1854 in the field of Indian education.
Ans : The Merits and Demerits of Wood’s Despatch are given below:
Merits of Wood’s Despatch :
Below we shall be understanding its merits:
(i) The Despatch started a new era in Indian education.
(ii) It determined an educational policy in India and made it constitutional.
(iii) It made the Government fully responsible for education of the country.
(iv) It studied the total problem of education from primary to university and gave useful suggestion for each stage of education.
(v) It recognised the utility of Indian literature, culture and knowledge.
(vi) It prepared an administrative set-up for education in each province and recommended for the appointment of Directors, Deputy director and Inspectors of schools. It also advised for starting an education department in each province.
(vii) The Despatch recommended stipends for poor and deserving students.
(viii) By Grant-in-aid system many schools were benefited and it also led to opening of new schools. Thus the Despatch helped the expansion of education in the country by encouraging private enterprises.
(ix) The Despatch emphasised the necessity of vocational education. So arrangement were made for the same. Thus the public got an opportunity for becoming self-dependent.
Archives
Demerits of Wood’s Despatch or Effect :
(i) Theoretically the Despatch provided a wide outlook on education, but in practically, the education remained a means for earning a livelihood. Thus the Despatch limited the scope of education.
(ii) Religious education which had a special place in the educational system of the country was discouraged by the Despatch. This was the great set-back to Indian culture and to the development of spiritual in the country.
(iii) The Despatch did not recognise responsibility of the state to educate every child below a certain age group.
(iv) The Despatch did not refer to the ideal of universal literacy of the country.
(v) There was no real vocational education as advocated by Despatch. The purpose of vocational education remained to enable Indian to get some services and not to become self-dependent.
(vi) The Despatch encouraged English would be given preference for Government services. Thus on the one hand English schools were opened and on the other the development of Indigenous schools was hampered.
5. Mention important suggestions or recommendations of Wood Despatch for the development of primary education in India.
Ans: On primary education the specific recommendations made by Despatch of 1854 which are summarised below :
(i)The Government should realise the responsibility for the development of primary education.
(ii)The indigenous primary schools should be recognised by the state government and it should be included in the third category of educational gradations.
(iii)Government grant-in-aid should be given to those schools that give secular education.
(iv)The schools receiving government grant should have the managing committees and they should be subjected to government inspection.
(v)The teachers should be trained in schools receiving government grant.
(vi)Suitable books in Indian languages should be written for children.
(vii)Fees should be charged from students of the schools receiving government grant.
(viii) In order to encourage primary education the people who were able to read and write should be given government jobs.
Point to be Remember
- Charles Wood was the president of the Board of control of the British East India Company.
- East India Company had renewed their charter in the year of 1813, 1833 and 1853.
- Sir Charles Wood prepared a report which was submitted to the Lord Dalhousie (Governor General of India).
- Teachers establishment of the training were suggested for the first time in the country during Wood’s Despatch 1854.
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