Page:Allan Octavian Hume, C.B.; Father of the Indian National Congress.djvu/30

 tion, 32 schools were opened on the 1st of April, in the more important villages of the Pergunnah." These proceedings were approved by the Lieutenant-Governor, by the Government of India, and subsequently by the Court of Directors. Encouraged by this auspicious beginning, this system (known as the "Hulqabundee" system) was gradually extended to the whole of the District, and by the 1st of January 1857, 181 schools had been established, with 5186 scholars (including 2 girls) on the lists. As regards school buildings, the beginning was made in a humble but effective way : "Only three buildings and these 'cutcha' ones have yet been erected for the schools. At present these are chiefly located in some commodious apartment of the Zemindar (if he is popular) or in some till-lately ruined house, repaired after a fashion by the villagers. Nevertheless cleanliness is enjoined, and attained ; and every school has been furnished with thick carpetings, sufficient to accommodate the teacher and all his pupils." It was hoped that later on neat and permanent buildings for the larger schools would be erected from surplus school funds, but in the meantime no financial alarms were allowed to impede the opening of a school where accommodation could be found sufficient to meet the modest requirements of village life. For the 181 schools teachers were found (8 on Rs. 6 per mensem, 39 on Rs. 5, and 134 on Rs. 4), many of them "for the pay they receive very able men" ; and detailed rules were printed in Hindee and Oordoo, prescribing the course of study, the duties of teachers, and the arrangements to secure a strict and consistent supervision. But early in this movement, a want was felt for some institution which should serve as a stepping stone for the scholars from the elementary schools to the Agra College ; and accordingly on the 1st of August 1856 Mr. Hume opened at Etawah a Central English and vernacular school, as the germ of