Regarding Wood’s Despatch, which of the following statements are true?

1. Grants-in-Aid system was introduced.
2. Establishment of universities was recommended.
3. English as a medium of instruction at all levels of education was recommended.

Select the correct answer using the code given below:

1. 1 and 2 only
2. 2 and 3 only
3. 1 and 3 only
4. 1, 2 and 3

Explanation

Statement 1 is correct

• In 1854, the Court of Directors of the EIC in London sent an educational despatch to the GovernorGeneral of India. Charles Wood, the President of the Board of Control of the Company, issued it. The Despatch outlined the educational policy for the future.
• It emphasised the practical benefits of a system of European learning, as opposed to oriental knowledge.
• Major Recommendations of the Despatch:
  • The government should assume direct responsibility for educating the masses and women. Thus, it rejected the Downward Filtration Theory, at least on paper. In practice, the Government did little to spread education and spent little on it.
  • A system of grants-in-aid should be introduced to encourage and foster private enterprise in education.
  • It was believed that the government would not be able to fund all the educational needs of the

    country, so private organisations would have to establish most educational institutions.

Statement 2 is correct

• Universities in the three presidency towns of Calcutta, Madras, and Bombay should be set up based on the model of London University.
  • In 1857, three universities were established in Calcutta, Bombay and Madras. Bankim Chandra
• The Departments of Education should be set up in each of the five provinces for systematic supervision of the education system.
• Vocational education should be promoted, and technical schools and colleges should be set up.
• The Despatch laid down the principles of a graded educational system all over the country – Indigenous Primary Schools, Middle Schools, High Schools, Colleges, and Universities.

Statement 3 is incorrrect

• The government should promote vernacular schools for the expansion of elementary education.
• Medium of instruction:
  • English should be used as the medium of instruction in the higher branches, i.e. at the collegiate stage.
  • Both English and modern Indian languages should be used to provide secondary education.
  • Vernacular languages should be used as the medium of instruction in the school (elementary education).

Answer: (a) 1 and 2 only; Difficulty Level: Medium