"تقرير عن إدارة رئاسة بومباي لسنة ١٨٨٨-١٨٨٩." [ظ‎‎٢‎٢] (٤٥٦/٥١)

xxxiy
BOMBAY ADMINISTRATION REPORT.
fl888-8i
pupils on the rolls from 484,059 to 507,752, and the average daily attendance
from 74 to 75 per cent. The increase was distributed over schools of every
grade, but was most marked in the case of schools, more especially aided schools ?
affording primary and secondary education. The entire cost of the Educational
Department was 54^- lakhs, of which Grovernment contributed from provincial
revenues 30 per cent, and the various local boards and municipalities 21 p 0 r
cent.; wdiile 21 per cent, was derived from fees and the remainder chiefly from
the revenues of Native States. The proportion derived from fees showed a
small but satisfactory increase during the year. Of the whole expenditure 43
per cent, was devoted to primary instruction.
A larger number of candidates than in the previous year competed at the
University examinations higher than the matriculation, and the number success
ful was both actually and proportionately higher. A new Arts College founded
by the American Mission was affiliated to the University, and the number of
students attending Arts Colleges increased. Among the professional colleges the
Bombay and Poona Law Schools were in a flourishing condition, but the attend-
ance at the Grant Medical College and the College of Science decreased. As
regards the former however it is considered by the Principal that the medical pro
fession in Bombay is overstocked, and it has been proposed to raise the standard
of admission. A gratifying indication of the growing desire for the advanced
medical education of women was afforded by an increase from 7 to 18 in the num
ber of ladies attending the classes at this College. The number of High Schools
(including 11 for girls) rose from 78 to 82, and the number of pupils in these
schools from 21,391 to 22,335. The most efficient institutions were the Elphin-
stone High School in Bombay,the High schools at Poona, Ahmedabad, Dharwar
and Batndgiri and the BajAram High School at Kolhapur. Out of 1,690 candi
dates for the University Entrance Examination sent up from the various schools
46 per cent, passed ; while of those sent up from private tuition only 7 per cent,
were successful. The rules for the Final School Examination which in future is to
take the place of the Matriculation as a test of qualification for Government service
were finally settled during the year. The middle schools which serve as feeders
to the high schools increased in number from 320 to 331, and the scholars attend- '
ing them from 18,232 to 18,612. In accordance with the recommendations of the
Education Commission the Goculdas Tejpal School in Bombay was transferred to
the management of the Trustees, four other schools in the same city were
amalgamated to form the Elphinstone Middle School and the school at Bander in
Surat was abolished. With few exceptions the High and Middle Schools, both
Government and aided, were in a very satis factory condition, and among the aided
Middle Schools the St. Joseph’s School at Bandora was reported to be a model
of efficiency.
The number of primary schools for boys (including police schools) was
7,573, and the number of pupils attending them 428,928; the schools having
increased since the preceding year by 306 and the pupils by 19,764 The
increase occurred principally in schools maintained or aided by the local boards.
Many of the local boards evinced an increasing interest in the encouragement of
education* but its extension is impeded by the fact that the income of these
boaids is far fiom elastic, and most ot them are now spending’ the whole of it
On an average the primary board schools in a large portion of the Presidency
proper were sufficiently good to stand comparison with the village schools of
other countries, but those of Sind compared unfavourably both with the cess
schools in the rest of the Presidency and with the indigenous mosque schools of
the province itself. It is satisfactory to note that the latter schools are being
brought under State supervision as aided schools without unduly interfering
with their distinctive methods of tuition. Owing principally to transfers from
*the local boards there was a small increase in the number of municipal schools;
but with some exceptions among the larger communities the municipalities as