Page:Convocation Addresses of the Universities of Bombay and Madras.djvu/157

 High School; but of the candidates that came up from private tuition only 1 in 8 passed. That shows, in the first place, an inferiority of instruction under private tuition, and a want of discrimination in the selection of candidates. I think that, on the whole, it may be fairly concluded that the standard is too high and that what my learned friend, the Vice-Chancellor, last year described as "more rigorous kindness" is required. It has been argued by some that as the passing of the Matriculation Examination is taken as a test for Government employment, this examination might be separated from the University, and that governing bodies of Colleges might themselves be permitted to exact a test of the efficiency of their institutions. But I must say it seems to me that Matriculation would lose the reason of its being if it were not the primary test for entrance to the University. To lower the standard for any collateral purposes would generally reduce the status of the University, and would be a departure from that beneficial principle of a high standard of preliminary competency laid down and steadily maintained. Again, I have seen it stated that the reason of the failure of so many Native youths is that the system of education is too exclusively European. Now, were that so, it would indeed be a great misfortune; for the purpose of this University is not to discard the study of Native languages, but is rather directed to revive the interest of the students of India in their own antiquities, and at the same time to induce them to assimilate the culture of the West. English is necessarily an obligatory language for admission to the University, but the classical languages of the East—Sanskrit, Persian, &c.—occupy an equal place with English, which is of course the common medium of instruction in our colleges. It might be well if a different examination could be made applicable for admission to the subordinate Government service, without involving the whole Matriculation standard; and indeed to my mind there is much to be said in favour of such a change, inasmuch as the knowledge of English is not necessary for many of the subordinate employments in the public service. The University degree has wisely been made a leading qualification for appointment as subordinate judges and some others; but it is by no means a fact that degrees are only made use of for that purpose—in fact, of those who have taken degrees in this University since 1870 only about 43 per cent, are in the ranks of the Government service, or 296 out of a total number of 704 persons. It is true that there are also about 83 in the service of Native States, but there remain 290 others who are in other walks of life. I read with great interest the remarks made by our late valued Chief Justice when he traced the progress and improvements