Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1917-02-12
BRITISH INDIA FACES
EDUCATION OF MASSES
NnetyFour Per Cent of Its 244O0O000 People Are Hit
erate-Commissioner Sharp Explains Difficulties in
Way Of General Spread Of knowledge.


more important and difficult task faces
British India to-day than education of
its :i.0co.0o0 people, of whom % per
cent are i!litcratc. Many thousands
are literally primitive folk who are
,rcadin;s the same paths that their an
ccstors trod centuries ago. aud who
no, only have no desire for learning
the Introduction Of schools with sus-
Diciou
homogeneous as i; may seem. Eri,-
ish India ranks fairy we'll among ,hc
nations in higher cducation--so far at
least a. quantity is concerned--whilc
in the matter Of elementary training.
upon which tile enligh;enme OF the
masses depends, II Is exceedingly back
ward.
Tie man Who is reputed TO have a
more intimate knowledge Of the In.
dian educational question than any
other person ii the country is H..
sharp. Educational Commissioner with
the Governor Of India. Mr.. Sharp spoke,
not as an official Of the government
but III his private capacity, expressing
his PERSONAL views 10 correspondent
OF tho Associated Press.
Higher education is now we'll ad-
yanesJ--at least in quantity" lie said.
''Out OF total Of 100000 under in
struction jus, over 100000 pupils arc
III colleges OF secondary schools These
100000 pupils, however comprise
only 0.5 per cent of tho total popula-
ton OF British India.
EDUCATION or GIRLS
The education CT girls Is almost
uoneXistcnt, The female population in
British India is nearly li2,O0o.o0o But
rot much more than 100000 girls arc
under INSTRUCTION. OF the male popu-
lation 81 per cent are under instruc-
ton: Of the fomalo, i per cent. OF both
together 81 per cent II is only ifl tho
higher education % boys that our
figures will stand comparison with
European countries, with America. with
Japan aud 50 forth
The commissioner was asked what
tho difficulties were which were hold
!nr back mass education.
There arc" lie said, many parts Of
the country where there is no tradi-
tion Of education ut All. Life goes on
apparently much "a: il did centuries
ag" Second India Is essentially an
agricultural country. and many Of tho
people do not SIC tho value Of cduca.
lion. and they prefer to pul their
children earl" to work. Third. there
is the caste system. Millions Of the
population arc regarded rs doomed TO
b" hcwcrs Of wood a nd dra wcrs of wa
icr. TN recently. it was regarded as
almost an ulpirus act for a member
doubtless there are many who stu so
regard ~ though III many quarters
opin'om has recently becn lihersiiscd.
some reorlc say that thc caste system
* breaking NJ. u is sim very deem.
rooted. It's rules arc looseniug in
some directions; but they arc also tisllt.
cninr III others.
There u also the reaction on the
male population and its cducation-ali
ideals which is cNercisrd by The fact
that tho female population is litter
aie--onl% per cent OF il can read and
write When half the population
grows NJ practically iliiterstc. the IN.
cert'Ne 10 education in the other half
must hn scn&ihly lowered: and, when
home education is thing almost nm
known, the figures OF litcracy are ar
800" CIV '""S"toi' "o"s hot bulk as
= customary adjunct Of life
TI,tDITIOS or LEARNING
~ CERTAIN SECTIONS
'oi course there causes do not oper-
att 10 an equal degree in al. parts
ei India. In Eurma there is tradi-
t'vH of education through the monas-
tlc schools, there is no caste aud there
IS II" purda tundcr the purda System q
woman can lie seen unveiled by no
man outside tho members of her own
family Consequently. in that pro-
Vince, The percentage OF litcratas i'm the
male population is more than three