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