Page:The despatch of 1854, on General education in India.djvu/36

Rh 85. Having now finished the sketch that we proposed to give of the scheme for the encouragement of education in India, which we desire to see gradually brought into operation, we proceed to make some observations upon the state of education in the several Presidencies, and to point out the parts of our general plan which are most deficient in each.

86. In Bengal, education through the medium of the English language has arrived at a higher point than in any other part of India. We are glad to receive constant evidence of an increasing demand for such an education, and of the readiness of the natives of different districts to exert themselves for the sake of obtaining it. There are now five Government Anglo-vernacular colleges; and zillah schools have been established in nearly every district. We confidently expect that the introduction of the system of grants in aid will very largely increase the number of schools of a superior order; and we hope that, before long, sufficient provision may be found to exist in many parts of the country for the education of the middle and higher classes, independent of the Government institutions, which may then be closed, as has been already the case in, in consequence of the enlightened conduct of the Raja of Burdwan, or they may be transferred to local management.

87. Very little has, however, been hitherto done in Bengal for the education of the mass of the people, especially for their instruction through the medium of the vernacular languages. A few vernacular schools were founded by Government in 1844, of which only 33 now remain, with 1,400 pupils, and, upon their transfer, in April, 1852, from the charge of the Board of Revenue to that of the Council of Education, it appeared that “they were in a languishing state, and had not fulfilled the expectations formed on their establishment.”

88. We have perused, with considerable interest, the report of Mr. Robinson, Inspector of the Assam schools, of which there appear to be 74, with upwards of 3,000 pupils. Mr. Robinson’s suggestions for the improvement of the system under which they are now managed appear to us to be worthy of consideration, and to approach very nearly to the principles upon which vernacular education has been