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APPENDIX A.
Note on Veterinary Education.
(F. WARE, M.R.C.V.S., Superintendent, Civil Veterinary Department, Madras.)
In discussing the question of veterinary education in India, owing to the diversity in the
general educational standard of the youths in the different parts of it, it is extremely difficult
to formulate proposals which can be made applicable to the whole of the country.
In this connection, it is interesting to note the remarks of the Hon'ble Sir Claude Hill on this
subject at the last meeting of the Board of Agriculture:—"Veterinary education is largely a
provincial matter and the staffing of the Civil Veterinary Services is mainly a provincial concern,
but I feel confident that all provinces are ambitious to develop their veterinary education to
the highest possible degree and to make themselves self-contained in the matter of the staffing
of their provincial veterinary service."
It may not be necessary to consider the requirements of each individual province separately,
but it is certainly advisable to differentiate between those veterinary colleges and the provinces
supplied by them in which the teaching is done in English, and those in which it is done in the
vernacular.
In the former, the limit to the standard to which veterinary education can be raised is formed
partly by the general education of the students and partly by the quality of teaching staff, but
in the vernacular colleges the limitations of the language will prevent the same standard being
reached and it will probably always be found that when an advanced course is required it will
have to be a separate one in English. This note therefore is intended to deal only with the
requirements of the provinces of Bombay, Bihar and Orissa, Bengal, Assam, Madras, and the
Central Provinces partly.
The two chief points brought out in the report of the Committee at Poona are that the existing
veterinary colleges have failed to train a sufficient number of men to fill up the subordinate
cadres of the various veterinary departments, and that those which have been turned out so far
are not as a rule fit to be promoted to supervising or teaching posts in the provincial service.
To remedy the latter defect it is recommended by the Committee that arrangements be made to
obtain highly trained men for direct recruitment to the provincial service either by insti-
tuting a special course at the existing veterinary colleges in addition to the existing one, or by
establishing a new college for the whole of India.
No definite recommendations are made for obtaining a greater number of suitable men of
the veterinary assistant c lass to fill the subordinate grades, nor is any comment made on the
mass of evidence, printed in Appendix III of the Proceedings of the last meeting of the Board
of Agriculture, there is from most provinces to show that not only are more veterinary assistants
required but men also of a higher professional capacity are now needed.
Colonel Walker of Bombay says:—"A revision of the examination subjects and the methods
of conducting examinations at the existing colleges appears to be necessary. A purely oral
examination, although unavoidable in the case of men of low education, is not altogether satis-
factory. This might involve a revision of the curricula of the existing colleges which would
probably not be undesirable."
Mr. Hewlett, also of Bombay, says:—"It may at once be admitted that the standard at
present demanded from students (in the existing Indian veterinary colleges) is not high and
that on general principles it would be desirable to raise it. Should the principle of free education
and scholarships for all be accepted then the standard could be raised. The general education
of the students entering would have to be raised, the course made a four years' course, and the
curriculum of study revised. This would necessitate an increase in the Imperial staff of a
college, etc."He states again later that he is in favour of reorganizing the systems of education
at Indian veterinary colleges and suggests that they be affiliated with the Provincial Univer-
sities. If the raising of the standard lowers the number of students seeking admission, he suggests
improving the prospects of graduates and providing free education and scholarships.
Mr. Quinlan of Bihar says:—"The lengthening of the course (at Indian veterinary colleges)
is very desirable and should be adopted in all provinces especially in those which find no diffi-
culty in obtaining suitable candidates."
Mr. Hickey of the United Provinces says:—"I think it is advisable in the near future to
raise the standard of veterinary education in India. The course of training should be for four