‘REPORT ON THE ADMINISTRATION OF THE BOMBAY PRESIDENCY, FOR THE YEAR 1888-89’ [‎123r] (252/456)

1888-89.]
EDUCATION.
181
fee-receipts slightly declined. There was a tendency to substitute younger and cheaper
teachers for senior and experienced but more highly paid masters, and the standard of
efficiency in a consiiderable number of the Municipalities showed a constant tendency
to decline. In the Northern Division there was an increase of 1 school, but the
number of pupils fell by 59, and fee-receipts fell from Rs. 18,230 to Rs. 17,311. The
schools in Ahmedabad, Nadiad and Parantij were flourishing, and the fee-rates were
revised at Modasa and Dhandhuka. Some Boards, such as those at Nadiad, Ahmedabad,
Surat and Tirana, were anxious to improve their schools, but among the smaller Boards
there was a want of earnest and intelligent administration. In the Southern Division there
was an increase of 4 sphools and 319 boys and the fee-receipts rose from Rs. 12,439 to
Rs. 12,993. The best schools existed in the districts of Belgaum, Dharwar, Ratnaglri and
Rolaba. Most of the school committees showed interest in their work, but more especially
those of Vengurla, Chiplun Panvel, Bagalkot, Gradag, Belgaum, Athni, Kumta and Sirsi.
In Sind there was a decrease of 4 schools and 700 pupils, the main cause being the competition
of aided schools and the introduction of fees. The development of aided schools was most
marked, there being an increase of 83 such schools with 2,800 pupils. The fee-receipts in the
Municipal schools rose from Rs. 5,439 to Rs. 5,528, and the number of Municipalities that
levy no fees was reduced to 10. Some of the poorer Municipalities were said to be indiffer
ent to the improvement of their schools, but high praise was given to Karachi, Hyderabad,
Sukkur, Tatta, Kotri, and Bubak.
The States of the Central Division showed an increase of 13 schools and 415 scholars, 3 of
these schools belonging to Bhil States in Khandesh. The state of the schools in Bhor, Aundh,
andPhaltan, managed exclusively by untrained teachers on very low pay, was not satisfactory.
In the Northern Division there was an increase of 5 schools and 2,679 pupils, and the fee-
receipts rose from Rs. 37,838 to Rs. 39,544. The increase in attendance was general,
except in Dharampor, Jawhar and Cutch. The best schools in Kathiawar were found to be
fully equal to similar schools in British districts. A school at Bhavnagar with more than
800 boys was particularly good. In the Southern Division the schools maintained by the
State of Kolhapur increased from 157 to 159, the attendance rising from 10,572 to 10,844.
About half of the schools had buildings of their own, and the accommodation was generally
good. In Kurundvad the attendance and in Jamkhandi both the number of schools and
the attendance decreased ; in the other feudatory States there were increases and the schools
in Miraj were reported very good. In Savanur the attendance improved and the schools
were reported to be well cared for. In Jath and Daphlapur 4 new schools were added to
the list, and the number of pupils rose ; but the schools were ill-equipped, and the teachers
underpaid. In Janjira the number of schools and pupils increased. In Savantvadi the
attendance rose, and the examination returns, with a few exceptions, were very satisfac
tory.
In the Central Division the number of aided schools fell from 322 to 310, but the num
ber of pupils increased by 80. This class included 126 Mission schools. The Northern
Division showed an increase of 7 schools and 627 pupils. In the Southern Division the
number of schools rose from 287 to 383, and the number of boys from 8,908 to 11,955.
Sixty-six of these were aided by Native States. All classes showed improvement.
In Sind there was a large increase of 182 schools and 4,899 boys. Most of the aided
schools are mosque schools, and the increase during the year was due to the eagerness
of the Mullahs to avail themselves of the benefits of the system, when satisfied that it
would entail no interference with their own methods of instruction.
The police school at Sdtara fell off both in numbers and efficiency, but the schools at
Godhra and Dohad were very successful, and the attendance increased at Thana, Ahmedabad,
Kairaand Surat.
In the whole Presidency The name given to each of the three divisions of the territory of the East India Company, and later the British Raj, on the Indian subcontinent. there was an increase of 3 night schools and 189 pupils. The
Central Division had 88 schools and 2,663 pupils. The 8 schools under the Poona Munici
pality were attended by 283 pupils of the trading, artisan and labouring castes, and the 6
Theistic night schools in Bombay were well attended. The school at Dhulia was particularly
good. The Northern Division had 157 schools and 3,298 pupils. There was an increase ^in
Kaira, and the schools in Thana, Kathiawar and Rewa Kantha were prosperous. Ihe
Southern Division had 53 schools and classes with 1,502 pupils for British districts and 34
schools with 1,284 pupils for the Native States. This Division alone showed a decrease,
In Sind there were 27 schools with 656 pupils. The best were in Karachi, Tatta and Kotri.
Of unrecognized schools there were in the Central Division 664 with 22,246 pupils. Of
these schools, 7 taught Persian or Arabic, 49 were Koran, and 37 V edic schools, and 571 were
vernacular schools, of which 7 were for girls. The Northern Division had 6 schools teach
ing Arabic, 13 Sanskrit pathshalas, 1 Hebrew school, 566 vernacular schools, 192 Koran
schools, and 2 English schools. It was believed that there was a tendency on the part of the
teachers in unrecognised schools to meet the offers of the Department, especially in Kaiia
and other advanced districts. The Southern Division had 865 schools and 15,208 children.
Of these schools 240 were in Native States, 225 were either family schools or mosque
schools, and the rest were private schools. In Sind the only schools still unrecognized
were the indigenous schools teaching the Koran, the Granth or the Purans. They numbered
746 with 8,908 pupils.
b 692—46
Chap. VII.
INSTRUCTION.
Schools in
Native States.
Aided Schools.
Police Schools.
Night Schools.
Unrecognised
Schools,