Administration of Primary Education in West Bengal By Biswa Ranjan Purkait

Book Description

About The Author

Dr. Biswa Ranjan Purkait, M.A., LL.B., B.T., M.A. (Ed.), Ph.D., is a Reader in the Department of Education at Kalyani University, West Bengal. With over two decades of engagement in Indian education, Dr. Purkait has developed a deep understanding of the challenges facing elementary education. His scholarly work focuses on the slow progress of primary education in Bengal between the two World Wars, where he analyzes its causes and proposes solutions for improvement. Known for his research-oriented approach and academic excellence, Dr. Purkait’s contributions are regarded as significant in the field of Indian education.

PROLOGUE

This study provides an analytical examination of the administrative and financial challenges faced in expanding elementary education in Bengal during the Mont-Ford Reforms and its implications for post-independence West Bengal. It highlights the administrative shortcomings and financial obstacles that hindered the establishment of universal, free, and compulsory primary education amid the national struggle for independence. The research covers pivotal socio-political and economic events of the early 20th century, illustrating how these developments influenced educational progress in Bengal. Despite various legislative efforts, primary education remained neither free nor universal, resulting in persistent mass illiteracy. The study reveals how both central and provincial governments evaded financial responsibility, often shifting the burden onto local bodies and the public. While some provinces, like Bombay, Madras, and Punjab, made strides towards universal education in the 1930s, Bengal lagged significantly due to its administrative and financial failings.

PREFACE

This edition distills insights from my extensive research on the administration of primary education in Bengal. Originally titled "An Enquiry into the Administration of Primary Education in Bengal under Montagu-Chelmsford Reforms and its Bearing upon the Same in Post-Independence West Bengal," this abridged version retains the core content while adapting it for publication. The work is fundamentally historical, examining the development of primary education in Bengal, particularly regarding administration and finance. It discusses the significant barriers to achieving free, universal, and compulsory education—an enduring aspiration in our educational landscape. By providing a detailed account of the state of primary education at the start of the century and its evolution thereafter, this study critically analyzes the attitudes of national leaders and the policies of the imperialist government. It also assesses the long-term impacts on education in post-independence West Bengal, incorporating the latest available data to enhance understanding of this crucial topic.