The Calcutta University Commission was appointed in 1917 to study and report on university education in India. The commission was chaired by Dr. Michael E. Sadler, Vice Chancellor of the University of Leeds. Over 17 months, the commission visited various university centers and submitted its report in 1919. The main objective was to inquire into the condition and prospects of the University of Calcutta and consider a constructive policy. The commission made recommendations regarding secondary education, intermediate education, and reforms for the University of Calcutta.

1. THE CALCUTTA UNIVERSITY
COMMISSION
(1917-1919)
Riyas
Peral

2. In 1917 the Government
appointed the Calcutta
University Commission to
study and report on the
problem of university
education
APPOINTMENT
OF THE
COMMISSION

3. Chairman Of this
commission was Dr.
Michael E. Sadler, the
Vice Chancellor of the
university of Leeds

4. The commission is also
known as the
“Sadler Commission”

5. The other members of the
Commission were
Dr. Gregory,
Prof. Ramsay Muir,
Sir Hartog,
Dr. Horniel,
Dr. Zia Uddin Ahmed and Sir
Asutosh Mukerji

6. The commission visited all
the university centers
and after 17 months
submitted its report in
1919

7. TERMS OF
REFERENCE OF
THE
COMMISSION
“to enquire into the
condition and prospects
of the university of
Calcutta and to consider
the question of a
constructive policy in
relation to the question it
presents”

8. Fill in the blanks :
i) The Calcutta University Commission was appointed in the year
__________.
ii) The chairman of the Commission was __________.
iii) He was the Vice Chancellor of the University of __________.
iv) The Vice-Chancellor of the Calcutta University was __________.
v) The commission submitted its report on __________.
vi) The main objective of the commission was to enquire into the
condition and working of __________.
CHECK YOUR PROGRESS

9. Recommendations of the commission
in different spheres of education.
SECONDARY EDUCATION
INTERMEDIATE EDUCATION
UNIVERSITY EDUCATION
CULCUTTA UNIVERSITY

10. Recommendation on
secondary education
Defects of Secondary Education
The secondary schools are suffering from lack
of educational tools and equipment
Secondary education has become narrow because
of being over influenced by matriculation
examination
The fundamental defect of secondary education is
dearth of suitable teachers

11. Most of the teachers are untrained
The teachers are paid very poorly and it is difficult to
procure efficient teachers with poor salary
The secondary schools are not inspected periodically and
they are not given useful suggestions for their
improvement
Most of the secondary schools are suffering from financial
difficulties.
The secondary schools are under the double control of
university and the Government, and there is difference
between university and the Government regarding their
own area of control and administration.

12. Suggestions for Reform:
The first essential thing for the improvement of secondary
education is the supply of necessary funds. The commission
recommended sanctioning of 40 lacs of rupees annually for
the purpose
The medium of instruction in the secondary schools
should be the mother tongue
The curriculum of secondary schools should be
diversified.
A Board of Secondary and Intermediate education should be
established in each province

13. The Board should be constituted with representative of
the Government, the university, the secondary schools
and the intermediate colleges
It should be entrusted with the administration and
control of secondary education and intermediate
education
Majority of the members should be non-official. It
should represent both the Hindus and the Muslims
The Board of Secondary and Intermediate
education will be an autonomous body and will
be free from official interferences.