Education Commissions in India

Pre-Independence Era

• Macaulay’s Minutes

• Wood’s Despatch

• Indian Education Commission/Hunter Commission

• Indian Universities Commission

• Sadler Commission/Calcutta University Commission

• Wardha Scheme of Education

Macaulay’s Minutes

• Minutes passed by Thomas Babington Macaulay in 1835

• Promotion of English Language, Culture and Literature in India

Role William Bentinck

• Bentinck took effective steps to root out social evils like Sati and infanticide

• William Bentinck advocated several educational reforms in order to ensure an all round social progress in India

• Bentinck induced reforms in the educational system prevailed in India

• In the Resolution of March 7, 1835 it was decreed that English would be the official language of India in s the higher branches of administration

William Bentinck’s reforms

• William Bentinck’s proclamation opened new vistas of education for those who were Indian in blood and colour but English in tastes, opinions, morals and intellect

• Bentinck was a true liberal and his reign of seven years the Indians achieved a socio-economic progress

• Bentinck employed Indians wherever possible in places of the high paid Europeans

• For his liberal ideas and reform activities Lord William Bentinck earned the admiration of the Indians

Wood’s Despatch, 1854

• Sir Charles Wood made recommendations on education in India in 1854

• The document carrying the recommendations is known as Wood’s Despatch

• Wood’s Despatch is also referred to as “Magna Carta of English Education in India” and also “Corner-stone of Indian Education”

Features• Wood’s Despatch gave importance to vernacular

languages• Emphasized vocational education and education

of women• Introduced grant-in-aid policy and gave due

importance to Indian Literature, Culture and Philosophy

• Emphasized on training of teachers and stipends to the poor and deserving students

• Resulted in establishment of Universities at Calcutta, Bombay and Madras in 1857

Indian Education Commission/Hunter Commission

• The First Education Commission of India appointed in February, 1882

• Appointed by Lord Rippon along with Sir William Hunter

• Focused on both the Primary and Secondary Education in India

• Also known as Hunter Commission

Features• Mother-tongue was adopted as the

medium of instruction

• Model High Schools were opened

• Scholarships and awards were introduced

Indian Universities Commission

• Appointed by Lord Curzon in 1902

• Purpose was to enquire into the conditions of the Universities

• Resulted in the establishment of Education Department

• Changes were made to the curriculum

• Grant-in-aid to private schools was raised

Sadler Commission/Calcutta University Commission

• Appointed by the Government of India in 1917

• Dr. Michael Sadler was the Chairman of Sadler Commission

• The commission recommended the 10+2+3 pattern of education

• Purdah schools were established for Muslim girls

• Intermediate classes were separated from the Universities

Wardha Scheme of Education

• Wardha Scheme of Education was approved by Mahatma Gandhi in March 1938

• The recommendations were made by a committee headed by Dr. Zakir Hussain

• The purpose of the committee was to make every citizen self-sufficient and self-reliant

Features

• Introduction of craft in schools• Emphasis on learning by doing• Free and compulsory education for children

between the age group of 6 and 14• Mother tongue was adopted as a medium of

instruction• Vocational Education and Activity based

curriculum were adopted

Education Commissions in the Post-Independence Era

• University Education Commission

• Secondary Education Commission

• National Policy on Education

University Education Commission

• Appointed under the Chairmanship of Dr. S. Radhakrishnan in 1948

• The number of working days was fixed to a minimum of 180 in a year

• Attendance at lectures was made compulsory for undergraduate students

• Maximum number of seats in different courses was fixed

• Refresher courses were organised by universities for high schools and intermediate classes

• University Grants Commission was set up to allocate finances to the universities

Secondary Education Commission

• Appointed in 1952 under the Chairmanship of Dr. A. Lakshmanaswami Mudaliar

• The commission is also called Mudaliar Commission

Features

• The commission stressed on Science and Mathematics

• Work experience was included in the school curriculum

• Measures were taken for the education of handicapped and backward classes

• Mid-day meals was recommended for students though the scheme was implemented in 1995

• Recommended opening of residential school in each Community Development Block

• Introduced ‘Earn while Learn’ concept• Recommended 6% of the GDP to be spent on

education

National Policy on Education

• National Policy on Education was issued by the Government of India on the recommendation of Education Commission of 1964

• The policy was adopted by the Indian Parliament in 1986

Features

• Emphasis on education for all• Recommended child-centered education• ‘Operation Blackboard’ was launched to focus

Primary Education• Decentralisation of Educational Institutions• Establishment of Open and Distance learning

centres was recommended• Emphasis on sports and physical education• Navodya Vidyalayas were opened