New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1904-05-15
INDIAN MERIT SYSTEM REFORM.

Reports of Lord Curzons abolition Of COM
petitive civil service examinations in India
have been taken by some persons as evidence
that the merit system had proved failure in
the country for which il was originally de-
yeloped TO serve as a model for the rest of the
world. Lord Curzon's act however, does not
in any sense mean the abandonment OF the
merit system, but further development Of it
10 meet the conditions existing in India. 1t
does not mean IN the least n return to the spoils
system or the abandonment Of selection for Of
fee solely account OF proved fitness, but
merely the adaptation of the system to the con-
sttutton of the schools and the habits Of the
people
The new measure does not affect the competl-
tive examinations held in Great Britain for the
Indian civil service. 1t relates only TO the sub
ordinate native service, which is composed Of
that peculiar class Of learned but inefficient
Hndo0s the ''baboos." English education.
which is OF necessity the basis Of training for
the Indian civil service is exotic. The nat
ural HindOo tendency is simply to take on
veneer OF English training. At best, It IS a
question of pouring Western wine into East
ern bottles" The inevitable disadvantage Of an
education in an alien tongue for the acquire
ment of modern science and thought essential
~ foreign 10 HindoO character is still further
aggravated by the narrow uttarian aim with
WHICH lIlaI ptluC3Iion IL pursued. employment
in the government service is practically the
only career thought of by the graduates of the
Indian University. This institution was mod
elled on the old London University, and is an
examining body, with no control over the teach
ing or discipline of candidates for its degrees
The result is that Indian education amounts TO
little more than examining for examinations.
The degree means nothing as TO character or
real ability. Examination of men so educated
in a limited number of special subjects is found
10 be no guarantee of fitness for government
work. In aboishing these examinations, how
ever. Lord Curzon provides others in entire har-
n'ony with the spirit of civil service reform. He
makes use Of the ordinary school examinations
i,nd the school records OF students for charac-
ter diligence and ability, thus securing a much
more complete test of merit. The element of
competition is retained; for government en-
ployes will be chosen from those who not
merely in a special examination but in their
life and work as exhibited TO their teachers
prove their superiority.
This reform is much n reform Of the edu-
cational as OF the civil service system Indeed
Lord Curzon lays particular stress upon the
plan as q scheme to make education an end in
itself rather than mere door OF entrance into
government service. The government conten-
plates providing boarding houses in connection
with the colleges and secondary schools TO keen
students under supervision and remove them
from the dcmoralizing private lodging houses Of
the large cities. The common schools are also
to be greatly extended and developed training
schools for teachers are TO be Instituted and
commercial and agricultural education is to be
emphasized To carry out this reorganization
it was necessary to change the practice which
made the sole aim OF education IN India the
pleasing Of civil service examiners The new
method, far from being an abandonment of the
merit system, is step in its evolution II COM
pels the candidate for Office to give the most
complete proof of his capacity and to look for
success not TO influence or examining for an ex-
animation when Il particular office IS desired
but TO the development Of himself bv the daily
performance OF duty with exceptional inteIlI-
gence and faithfulness.