History Ch.

8 Civilising the Native, Educating the Nation – Worksheet – 3

Q5.According to William Adam, how did the flexible education suit to the local
needs of Indians?

A 5. According to William Adams –

 The system of education was flexible.

 There were no fixed fee no printed books no separate school buildings no
benches or chairs no blackboard no system of separate classes no role call
registers no annual examination and no regular timetable .
 Fee depended on the income of parents: the rich had to pay more than the poor.
 Teaching was oral and the guru decided what to teach .
 The guru interacted separately with groups of children with different levels of
learning.
 Classes were not held during harvest time when rural children often work in the
fields.

Q6. What measures did the British undertake to implement the rules which would
lead to the improvement in the vernacular education system?

Ans6.The measures that the British undertook were --

 They appointed a number of government Pandits each in charge of looking after 4

to 5 schools.
 Each Guru was asked to submit periodic reports and take classes according to a
regular timetable.
 Teaching was now to be based on text books.
 Learning was to be tested with system of annual examination.
 Students were asked to pay regular fees attend regular classes sit on fixed seats
and obey the new rules of discipline.
Q7.What were the adverse effects of the new system of Vernacular education?
Ans 7. The adverse effects of the new system of Vernacular education were as
follows -

 Gurus who wanted to retain their independence found it difficult to compete with
the government aided and regulated Pathshalas.
 Children from poor peasant families found it difficult to go to these pathshalas
since the timetable was not flexible.
 The discipline of the new system demanded regular attendance during harvest
time when the children of poor families had to work in the fields.