The presentation titled "Women’s Education in Colonial Period" explores the historical landscape of women's education during the colonial era. Delving into the socio-political context of the colonial period, the slides likely shed light on the challenges, opportunities, and evolving perspectives surrounding women's education. It may touch upon key figures, movements, or educational policies that influenced or restricted women's access to education during this transformative period. The presentation is expected to provide insights into the dynamic interplay between societal norms, gender roles, and educational advancements during colonial rule. By examining the historical narrative, it aims to offer a nuanced understanding of the struggles and achievements in women's education, contributing to a comprehensive perspective on the broader themes of empowerment, social change, and educational reform within the colonial context.

1. Women’s Education in
Colonial Period

2. Introduction
• Education for women is an important step in the development and
growth of a society, yet it continues to be a neglected domain from
the colonial period till the present times.
• Education is the most important aspect of the developmental process of
a person. It enables the person to know the right conduct and equips
him/her to differentiate between right and wrong. Equally important is
the fact that women receive quality education at par with the education
received by the male section of the society.
• When the female section of society is educated, the future family
becomes educated

3. • This shows the immense importance of educating women and its
impact on the society and nation. Despite this, a large number of
women were prohibited from receiving any type of formal
education as it was believed that they are suitable for doing the
household chores and looking after the family and children only.

4. The Initiation into Schooling
• The first school to be opened exclusively for girls was started by
Robert May of London Missionary Society (LMS) in Bengal region of
Chinsurah in 1818, after which various schools were opened for
girls by various pioneers. Mary Ann Cooke was regarded as amongst
the first missionary women to open a school under Church
Missionary Society (CMS) in order to promote women education.
• The first boarding school which was opened for girls was with the
initiative of CMS in Tirnuelveli in 1821.

5. The curriculum
• The curriculum included reading, writing, spelling and
needlework.

6. Barriers
• Though initiative was taken by the missionaries, yet the number of
enrolment in these schools did not reflect the attitude of the
Indian towards women education.
• Girls belonging to respectable Hindu families were not sent to
these schools for the fear of religion conversion.
• Eminent scholar Sir Syed Ahmed Khan, who on one hand promoted
Western education for Muslim boys and on the other, was against
any type of education for Muslim girls. He regarded women to be
emotional and irrational and inferior to men intellectually and
physically.

7. • The Dalits are also known as Harijans or the scheduled castes and
they have faced discrimination in every aspect of their lives in the
hands of the upper castes. They have been prevented from
entering educational institutions like schools, colleges and hence,
been prevented from accessing education.
• The Dalit girls had to face ‘double discrimination’ in the sense
that they were not only discriminated for their gender but also for
their caste, and therefore, were often discouraged from attending
schools and colleges which were distant and male dominated.

8. Educating Girls from Different Religions
• Apart from education of the girls belonging to Hindu community,
attention was also paid on educating the girls belonging to other
minority religions. Amongst the first to provide education to their
girls were the Parsis in Bombay.
• Since the 1840s, the Parsi girls were secretly being educated in
their homes. Literacy was highest among the Parsi girls.
• There were many female patrons for education of Muslim girls
including Sikander Begum, Shah Jahan Begum, and Sultan Jahan
Begum among others who served as a role model for other women
as they themselves were highly educated.