23-10-2024
07:46 AM
Prelims: History of India and Indian National Movement
Mains: The Freedom Struggle — its various stages and important contributors/contributions from different parts of the country
The Hunter Commission, officially known as the Hunter Education Commission, marked a significant milestone in British Indian education. This commission, appointed by Viceroy Lord Ripon in 1882, was tasked with addressing implementation issues raised by the Wood's Despatch of 1854, assessing the state of elementary education in British territories, and recommending necessary reforms.
The final report, delivered under Sir William Wilson Hunter's leadership, was instrumental in transforming colonial India's educational landscape.
Earlier efforts to improve education had largely neglected primary and secondary education. When control of education was transferred to the provinces in 1870, the situation worsened due to their limited resources. In 1882, Lord Ripon, recognising the need for a thorough review, responded by appointing a commission, chaired by Sir William Wilson Hunter, to evaluate the state of education since the Wood’s Despatch of 1854.
Lord Ripon, then Viceroy of India, appointed India's first Education Commission on February 3, 1882. Sir William W. Hunter, a member of the Governor General's Executive Council, served as its chairman. As a result, it is known as the Hunter Commission.
The Hunter Education Commission was appointed in 1882 with the primary goal of reviewing the state of education in India and ensuring the effective implementation of the principles outlined in Wood’s Despatch of 1854. The commission’s mandate extended to several key areas of inquiry:
The Hunter Commission's recommendations focused on enhancing state involvement in primary education, decentralizing control, reforming secondary education, promoting female education, and expanding universities in India.
Q1. What is the Hunter Commission?
Ans. The Hunter Commission was an 1882 investigation into the state of education in British India, led by Sir William Wilson Hunter.
Q2. What was the main objective of the Hunter Commission in 1882?
Ans. The main objective was to assess and reform the educational system, particularly focusing on elementary education and the implementation of Wood’s Despatch of 1854.
Q3. Who was the chairman of the Hunter Commission in 1882?
Ans. Sir William Wilson Hunter was the chairman of the Hunter Commission in 1882.
Q3. Which is the first education commission in India?
Ans. The first education commission in India was the Hunter Commission of 1882.
Q4. Who was the Governor-General during the Hunter Commission?
Ans. Lord Ripon was Governor-General during the Hunter Commission of 1882.
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