History of English as Medium of Education in India

 

Introduction of English Education in India

·     English education was introduced in India during 18^th Century in the charity schools at Calcutta, Madras and Bombay.

·       The real beginning of western education in India was through the Charter Act of 1813.The Charter Act of 1813 allowed;

Ø  Missionaries travel to India;

Ø  Allocation of 100 thousand rupees for two specific purpose;

(a) The encouragement of learned natives of India and revival of and improvement of literature.

(b) Promotion of Knowledge of the sciences amongst the inhabitants.

·       But the nature of the education was yet to be decided. The Orientalist vs Anglicists debate culminated in favour of Anglicists when William Bentinck, a Utilitarian reformist became Governor General in 1828 and Thomas Babington Macaulay was appointed the law member in his council in 1834.

·       On 2^nd Feb, 1835, the Macaulay issued his famous Minute known as “Macauley Minutes on Indian Education”. It vehemently opposed oriental learning and strongly favoured the European education of literature and science in English medium.

·       William Bentick immediately endorsed the Macaulay minute on 7^th March, 1835 despite loud protest from orientalists.

·       Macauley wanted to create a class of persons Indian in blood and colour, but English in taste, in opinions, in morals and intellect.

·       Thus, new English education policy was the theory of downward filtration i.e. it was not meant for the masses but for the rich, the learned, the men of business. Once these people were trained then they could act as teacher and through them elementary education would percolate downward through regional languages.