The British laid the foundation of Modern Education System in India. The English East India Company opened a school, Saint Mary Charity School, at Madras in 1715 A.D. Lord Warren Hastings established Calcutta Madrasa in 1718 A.D. Muslim students of rich families took education over here. One Sanskrit College was started at Benaras due to the efforts of Jonathan Tunckon later on. It was a centre of Hindu education. After this, the story of development of education starts in 1813 A.D.

I. Development of Education from 1813 A.D. till 1854 A.D. The British government planned to spend one lakh rupees every year on the development of education through Charter Act of 1813 A.D. But it didn’t spend this amount due to lack to any clear policy. A committee was made in 1823 A.D. to give recommendations on education policy. But there were some differences among the members of this committee. Some of its members were in favour of giving Western education through the medium of English language. On contrary to it, some members wanted to make local languages, like Sanskrit, Arabian, Persian etc., as medium of education. Lord Macaulay became the President of Education Committee in 1835 A.D. He gave his decision in favour of Western education. Raja Ram Mohan Roy also gave stress on adopting Western education.

Wood’s Despatch. A committee was constituted in 1854 A.D. under the chairmanship of Charles Wood for the spread of Modern Education in India. The recommendations of Charles Wood were known as Wood’s Despatch.

It gave the following recommendations for bringing educational reforms :

• An educational department should be established in every province of the country.
• Universities should be established in major cities such as Calcutta, Bombay, Madras, etc.
• One government school should be opened in every district.
• The arrangement should be made for training of teachers so that the level of education could be raised.
• Schools should be opened for women.

On the basis of recommendations of Charles Wood, universities were set up at Calcutta, Bombay and Madras in 1857 A.D. Medical Colleges were also opened in these cities in the same year. Government College of Lahore was established in 1864 A.D.

II. Development of Education after 1854 A.D.

Hunter Commission: Hunter Commission was appointed in 1882 A.D. Its education-related recommendations are given below :

• Private schools should be given enough grants.
• Secondary schools should be improved.
• Special arrangements of women education should be made.
• Students should be given physical as well as moral education.
• Not much government interference should be there in schools and colleges.

Government accepted the recommendations of Hunter Commission which became the base of Modern Educational System.

Indian University Act 1904 A.D. Lord Curzon passed an Act called ‘Indian University Act’ in 1904 A.D. Government interference in universities was increased due to this Act. That’s why this act was greatly opposed by the Nationalists.

Sadller Committee: Government appointed Sadller Committee in 1917 A.D.

This committee gave following recommendations for the development of education :

• Medium of education at school level, should be Indian languages and later on it should be English language.
• The examination system should be improved.
• Government control over universities should be reduced.
• Special emphasis should be given on Technical Education.
• The vice-Chancellor should be appointed in every university.

Hurtog Committee 1928: Hurtog Committee was appointed in 1928 A.D. for spread and bringing reforms in educational sector.

This committee gave following recommendations :

• Primary education should be made compulsory.
• Salary of teachers should be increased.
• Extra expenditure on education should not be done.

Basic Education 1937 A.D. Mahatma Gandhi gave suggestions in 1937 A.D. for starting Basic Education. He was of the view that free and compulsory education should be given to the children up to the age of 14 years. They should also be given technical education.

Seargent Scheme: Seargent gave certain recommendations in 1943 A.D. for the development of education.

The following were the given recommendations :

• Education should be given in Nursery Schools before Primary education.
• Free education should be given to students of the age of 6-15 years.
• Adult education should be given.
• Limited students should be admitted in colleges.