Wood's despatch
Charles Wood, the President of the Board of Control of the East India Company, had an important effect on spreading education in India when in 1854 he sent a despatch to Lord Dalhousie, the then Governor-General of India.[1]
Recommendations
He recommended therein that:
- An education department was to be set up in every province.
- Universities on the model of the London university be established in big cities such as Bombay, Calcutta and Madras.
- At least one government school be opened in every district.
- Affiliated private schools should be given grant in aid.
- The Indian natives should be given training in their mother tongue also.
- Provision was made for a systematic method of education from primary level to the university level.
Legacy
In accordance with Wood's despatch, Education Departments were established in every province and the University of Calcutta, the University of Bombay and the University of Madras in 1857 as well as the University of the Punjab in 1882 and the University of Allahabad in 1887.