The Sargent Committee Report of 1944 made several recommendations to reform the Indian education system. It proposed universal pre-primary education for ages 3-6, and compulsory free primary education for ages 6-14. It recommended high school education for ages 11-17, and a 3-year degree program after secondary school. It emphasized using local languages as the medium of instruction, diversifying curriculums, increasing vocational training, and establishing education departments at central and state levels. The report aimed to develop a national education system and improve access, quality and relevance of education across all levels over the next 40 years.

1. SARGENT COMMITTEE REPORT(1944)
BY
MONOJIT GOPE
DEPARTMENT O EDUCATION
KABI JOYDEB MAHAVIDYALAYA

2. INTRODUCTION
In the previous unit we have discussed Gandhiji’s Wardha Scheme of Basic Education, 1937. Before that, the reports of the various
committees and commissions suggested significant educational reforms in regard to national development. Government of India
resolutions, 1913 was followed by Sadler Commission’s Report of 1917, and the Hartog Committee Report in 1929 and then by the
Wardha Scheme, 1937. Keeping in view the reforms suggested by all these reports, the British Government had begun to understand
the seriousness of the situation in the area of education. Ultimately in the middle forties the Government of India realized that it could
no longer be indifferent to the problem of education of the Indian people and there was the need of bringing about radical reform in all
aspects of Indian education. As the British became hopeful of its victory in the Second World War, it directed its attention to do
something for the Indian people in the field of education. So it advised Sir John Sargent, the Educational Advisor to the Government
of India, to prepare a comprehensive scheme of education for educational reform in India. In this unit we will discuss the major points
of recommendations regarding pre-primary, primary, secondary, university and other aspects of education in our country as proposed
in the Sargent Report, 1944. We will also evaluate the recommendations of this report.

3. FORMATION OF THE COMMITTEE
It has been mentioned above that Sir John Sargent, the Educational Adviser to the Government of India was asked to prepare a comprehensive report
on education. For the purpose, the government formed a Committee of Enquiry with 22 members. The report of the committee was submitted to the
Central Advisory Board of Education (CABE) in 1944. The Board accepted it in ‘toto’ and recommended its enforcement. The scheme was known as
‘Sargent Scheme of Education’ as it was prepared by John Sargent. It is also known as ‘Report by the Central Advisory Board of Education’ and also as
the plan for post-war educational reconstruction in India. This scheme has a historical importance as it was the first attempt to develop a National
System for Education in India. The report of the Committee consisted of 12 different chapters covering from pre-primary to university education. It
was a full fledged educational plan for the future educational reconstruction in India. The report had diagnosed every problem critically and had given
definite and clear-cut solutions. It deals with almost all types of education for all classes of people in India. This was the first report that present a
comprehensive picture of education in our country at that period of time. The report is undoubtedly a valuable educational document. Hence, it
deserves a careful study. It must be mentioned here that this plan is not entirely a new plan. It is rather the summery of different resolutions, minutes
and proceedings of the CABE since 1936.

4. MAJOR PROPOSAL OF THE COMMITTEE AS A
NATIONAL SCHEME OF EDUCATION
The report had maintained that in a period of not less than 40 years, the standard of Indian education will be made equivalent to that of England. It had made
certain policy decisions, the implications of which may have far reaching consequences. They may be outlined below—
 Pre-primary education for children between 3 to 6 years of age.
 Universal, compulsory and free primary or basic education for all children between the ages 6—11 (junior basic) and 11—14 (senior basic).
 High school education for six years for selected children between the years 11—17.
 Degree course for three years beginning after the higher secondary examination for selected students
 Technical, commercial, agricultural and art education for full time and part time students, girls schools are to teach domestic science.
 The liquidation of adult illiteracy and the development of public library system in about 20 years.
 Full provision for the proper training of teachers.
 Educational provision be made for the physically and mentally handicapped children.
 The organisation of compulsory physical education.
 Provision be made for social and recreational activities.
 The creation of employment bureaus.
 The creation of department of Education in the centre and in the states.
 The use of mother tongue is to be used as the medium of instruction in all high schools.

5. RECOMMENDATION ON PRE PRIMARY
EDUCATION
For the first time in India, official attention was given towards the pre-primary stage of education. The major suggestions of
the report in this regard may be summarized below—
 Provision should be made for pre-primary education in the form of nursery schools for the success of National Scheme of
Education.
 Children from 3—6 years of age should be admitted in these schools.
 The basic aim of these schools should be to impart social experience and education of general behaviour rather than
giving formal education.
 The nursery schools may be attached to junior basic schools in the rural areas.
 In the urban areas where there are sufficient numbers of children, nursery schools should have separate existence.
 Pre-primary education should be free.
 It was estimated that the pre-primary education will require annually Rs. 3, 18, 40,000/- for ten lakh people.

6. RECOMMENDATION ON BASIC OR PRIMARY
EDUCATION
The report has adopted the scheme of basic education with some modifications, which gave the official recognition to
Gandhiji’s Basic Education. The principle of education through craft was advocated but it did not agree with the idea that the
things manufactured by the students should meet the expenses of the education. Regarding primary education the scheme
contains the following suggestions—
 Basic schools should be divided into two categories— Junior Basic Schools and Senior Basic Schools.
 Junior basic stage should be from 6—11 years of age and education in these schools should be compulsory for all.
 Senior basic schools should be for children of 11—14 years of age. Only such student should be sent to senior basic
school who cannot continue their studies for high schools.
 In the junior basic schools, there should be one teacher for every 30 students. In senior basic schools there should be one
teacher for every 25 students.
 Teaching of English has not been given any place in junior basic schools. But in the senior basic stage the provincial
Governments were authorized to take final decision in this regard.

7. CONTINUE
 Instead of external examination, there should be internal examinations. Certificates should be issued after the completion
of the studies.
 Provision should be made for physical education and organised game for children.
 The medium of instruction should be the mother tongue of the pupils.
 No teacher should receive less than Rs. 20/- per month.
 Basic schools should be started only when suitable trained teachers are available
 Suitable courses for girls such as, cookery, laundry work, needle work, handicraft, child care and first aid should be
introduced.
 A standing committee of the Central Advisory Board of Education should be appointed to watch the new education
experiments carried on in the provinces.
 A Central Agency should be established in each province for the disposal of marketable articles produced in schools.

8. RECOMMENDATION ON HIGH SCHOOL
EDUCATION
In the opinion of the Sargent Committee, high school education should not be considered simply as a preliminary to university
education but as a stage complete in itself. The suggestions of the committee regarding high school education may be summarized
below—
 Only those students, who are well above the average ability and have exceptional aptitude for higher studies, should be sent for
secondary schools.
 The duration of high school education should be six years and the age group is 11—16 years.
 Students below the age of 11 should not be allowed to enter these schools. Their abilities, aptitudes and interests should be
borne in mind while giving them admission.
 Students have to study at least up to the age of 14 years. In these schools they should not be allowed to leave schools before
this age.
 Fee shall be charged from the students for receiving education of this age but 50% of the pupils will be provided with free
studentship.
 It has also been recommended to give scholarships to the poor students so that they may not be deprived of this stage of
education.

9. CONTINUE
 The high school should be of two types— Academic and Technical and curriculum should be prepared accordingly.
 The Academic high schools will impart instruction in the Arts and pure sciences, while the Technical high school will
provide the training the applied sciences and Industrial and Commercial subjects.
 Art and Music should form an integral part of the curriculum in both and all girls should take a course in Domestic
Science.
 The curriculum should be diversified as far as practicable in order to provide a wide range of choices.
 The medium of instruction in all high schools should be the mother tongue of the pupils. English should be a compulsory
second language.
 The aim of education should be to make the boys self dependent and able to stand on their legs.

10. RECOMMENDATION ON UNIVERSITY
EDUCATION
We are already familiar with the suggestions given by the committee regarding pre-primary, primary and high
school education; let us discuss what suggestion it has offered for university education. The Sargent Committee
pointed out the defects of university education in the following way—
 University education has failed to relate their activities to the practical needs of the community as a whole.
There is no systematic attempt to adjust the output to the capacity of the employment market to absorb it.
 A great deal of importance is attached to examinations.
 In the absence of suitable selection machinery, a large number of incapable students get entry into the
universities.
 Probably nowhere among the universities of the world is there so large a proportion of failures in
examinations as in Indian universities.
 Indian universities do not fully satisfy the requirements of a national system of education.

11. CONTINUE
The Committee has offered the following suggestions for the improvement of university education—
 The duration of degree course should be of 3 years.
 The present intermediate course should be abolished. The first year of the course should be transferred to high school and the second
year to the universities.
 The standard of university education must be raised. The condition of admission must be revised so that capable students can take the
advantage of the university course.
 Competent teachers should be appointed in the university and steps should be taken to improve the conditions of service including
remuneration.
 The tutorial system should be widely extended for closer personal contacts between teachers and students.
 Adequate financial assistance must be provided for poor students.
 Emphasis should be given on establishing a high standard in post-graduate studies and in pure applied research.
 For coordination in the activities of the different universities an All India Organisation like University Grants Committee of England
should be set up.

12. IMPLEMENTATION OF THE RECOMMENDATION
It is necessary for us to see how the recommendations of the Sargent Committee was implemented.
The Government of India accepted the recommendations of the report in principle and tried to implement some of them in the
following manner—
 In 1945 an education department was established at the centre to increase administrative efficiency.
 According to the recommendations of the committee 40 crores of rupees were given to the provincial Governments for
implementing certain aspects of the scheme in their areas.
 The Provincial Governments were advised to make five year plans for education. In 1946 these plans were made in some
provinces.
 It was decided that the scheme should be implemented within 16 years instead of 40 year.
 According to the recommendations of the committee University Grants Committee was constituted in 1945 which later on
became University Grants Commission in 1956.
 The aim of providing compulsory and free education to children between 6—11 years of age was accepted.
 Efforts were made for adult education and also for improving the economic condition of teachers.
 The committee of polytechnic school and the All India Technical Education Committee were established in Delhi.

13. THANK YOU