4. Introduction
● Sir Charles Wood was the President of the Board of Control
of English East India Company.
● He had also been the Secretary of the state of India. He had
a great impact on disseminating education in India.
In 1854 he sent a despatch to Lord Dalhousie, the then Governor-
General of India.
It is called as Magna Carta of English Education in India.
● The dispatch, being the first authoritative declaration of
educational policy in India.
● Moved toward the end of the laissez-faire attitude of
English government, and stands as a pivotal point in the
history of Indian education.
(Laissez-faire is a policy of minimum governmental interference
in the economic affairs of individuals and society.)
Sir Charles Wood
5. Features of Wood’s Despatch:
As the Wood’s Despatch promoted education rejecting the ‘downward filtration theory’
- The downward filtration theory means that the education was provided to a small
portion of the people, and through them, education was conveyed to the masses.
i) Primary Education
● Vernacular languages were to be promoted.
● Education Department was to set up in every province.
● At least one government school be opened in every district.
● Systematic method of education.
6. ii) Higher Education
Universities on the model of the London university be established in big cities like
Bombay, Madras and Calcutta in 1857.
iii) Women’s Education
Promoted female education on all levels
iv) Hierarchy in education was systemised:
Primary schools in villages (Bottom)
Anglo-Vernacular High Schools
Affiliated colleges at district level
Affiliating universities in the presidency towns
7. v) English Education
English was made the medium of instruction for higher studies
vi) Vernacular Education
Vernacular languages (spoken by the common masses) to be promoted at
primary level
vii) Teachers’ training
Promotion and stress on teachers’ training at all levels
Secular Education : to be promoted
Grants-in-aid : to encourage private enterprise.
8. University of Calcutta
University of Mumbai University of Madras
1. Bombay, Madras and
Calcutta universities
were set up in 1857.
Recommendations:
9. 2. In all provinces,
education departments
were set up.
11. Agriculture Institute at Pusa (Bihar) Engineering Institute at Roorkee
4. Agriculture Institute at Pusa (Bihar) and an
Engineering Institute at Roorkee were started.
12. 5. British India witnessed rapid westernisation of education system
with European headmasters and principals in schools and colleges.
13. Impact of Wood’s Despatch
The following developments were reflected post-Charles Wood’s Despatch:
1. Bombay, Madras and Calcutta universities were set up in 1857.
2. In all provinces, education departments were set up.
3. Bethune School (founded by J.E.D. Bethune) was started for women
education.
4. Agriculture Institute at Pusa (Bihar) and an Engineering Institute at Roorkee
were started.
5. British India witnessed rapid westernisation of education system with
European headmasters and principals in schools and colleges.
6. Private Indian educators appeared.
14. References
1. Suresh Chandra Ghosh (1975) Dalhousie, Charles Wood and the Education Despatch
of 1854, History of Education, 4:2, 37-47
2. S. Venkatanarayanan. Tracing the Genealogy of Elementary Education Policy in
India Till Independence.- https://doi.org/10.1177/2158244013510302
