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Hunter Commission - Modern History Notes for UPSC
IMPORTANT LINKS
The Hunter Commission was formed in 1882 under the chairmanship of Sir William Hunter. This Commission was appointed by Lord Ripon who was the viceroy of India in 1882. This Commission was officially formed on 3rd April 1882 after a request was received by Lord Ripon from the general Council of Education to form a Commission to give recommendations on the education sector in India. Thus, the Hunter Commission is one of the most important topics for UPSC IAS Examination.
In this article on the Hunter Commission, we shall discuss its background, recommendations and significance . This will be very useful for aspirants in the UPSC Prelims Exam.
Also, study the NCERT Notes on Charter Act of 1833 from the linked article.
Hunter Commission (UPSC Modern History): Download PDF Here!
About Sir William Hunter:
- Sir William Hunter was Indian Civil Servant and also a member of the viceroy's executive Council.
- He was born on 15th July 1840 in Glasgow, Scotland and he obtained his education from the ‘Quicker Seminary’ at Queenswood, Hampshire after which he joined the Gla Thandi Thandi Pawansgow Academy for higher studies.
- Finally, in 1862 he cleared the Indian civil services exam and became a Civil Servant in India.
Study the NCERT Notes on Charter Act of 1813 here.
Recommendations of the Hunter Commission:
- The Hunter Commission gave many recommendations relating to the primary and secondary level education in India.
- It recommended that the prime responsibility of providing primary education should be provided to the local boards and the municipal boards.
- This was because of the fact that the level of primary education in the British occupied territories of India was found to be poor as compared to the non-British territories.
- Thus, it was recommended that the responsibility of providing primary education in the British occupied territories of India shall be provided to the local boards and the municipal bonds and the overall inspection must be done by the British colonial government.
- The commission also praised the the quality of Secondary Level Education provided in the British occupied areas, particularly the region of Bengal, where the system of grants-in-aid was in operation.
- Under this system, the government provided financial aid to set up schools to the private institutions.
- Therefore, it was recommended that the responsibility of the secondary schools should be handed over to the private enterprises in a phase wise manner and the government should provide the monetary grants-in-aid for the same.
- This Commission also recommended to follow a principle of ‘Payments by Results’ to provide the grant in aid for the setup and functioning of the schools.
- It recommended that a greater emphasis must be paid on providing moral and physical education in the schools to develop the character and personality of the students studying in the schools.
- The introduction of physical education and the various games would also imbibe in students qualities like discipline, teamwork and leadership skills in the students.
- For this, it was recommended that the professors and the principal of the various schools should provide lectures on moral education to the students.
- It was also recommended to provide vocational and literary training at the secondary education level.
- It was also recommended that adequate facilities should be provided to the female students to secure their educational rights.
- Moreover, the quality of education provided to the Religious minorities like Muslims should be improved Drastically.
Study the NCERT Notes on Regulating Act of 1773 here.
Significance of the Hunter Commission:
- The recommendations of the Hunter Commission played a key role in significantly improving the level and quality of primary and secondary level education in India.
- The grants-in-aid system adopted by the Government to set up secondary level schools which were managed by the private institutions, helped in enhancing the reach of educational rights to the students.
- This in turn helped to improve the quality of education in India by providing educational rights to the socially downtrodden sections of the society like human religious minorities and backward communities, etc.
Checkout the test series for UPSC IAS Exam here.
We hope that all your doubts regarding the Hunter Commission will be cleared after going through this article. You can download the Testbook App now to check out various other topics relevant to the UPSC IAS Exam.
Hunter Commission FAQs
When was the Hunter Commission formed?
The Hunter Commission was formed in 1882 under the chairmanship of Sir William Hunter.
Which viceroy had appointed the Hunter Commission?
This Commission was appointed by Lord Ripon who was the viceroy of India in 1882. This Commission was officially formed on 3rd April 1882 after a request was received by Lord Ripon from the general Council of Education to form a Commission to give recommendations on the education sector in India.
Give details of the recommendations given by the Hunter Commission on Primary Level Education?
The Hunter Commission gave many recommendations relating to primary and secondary level education in India. It recommended that the prime responsibility of providing primary education should be provided to the local boards and the municipal boards. This was because of the fact that the level of primary education in the British-occupied territories of India was found to be poor as compared to the non-British territories. Thus, it was recommended that the responsibility of providing primary education in the British occupied territories of India shall be provided to the local boards and the municipal bonds and the overall inspection must be done by the British colonial government.
What is the significance of the Hunter Commission?
The recommendations of the Hunter Commission played a key role in significantly improving the level and quality of primary and secondary level education in India. The grants-in-aid system adopted by the Government to set up secondary level schools which were managed by the private institutions helped in enhancing the reach of educational rights to the students. This in turn helped to improve the quality of education in India by providing educational rights to the socially downtrodden sections of the society like human religious minorities and backward communities, etc.
Give basic details about Sir William Hunter, the chairman of the Hunter Commission?
Sir William Hunter was an Indian Civil Servant and also a member of the viceroy's Executive Council. He was born on 15th July 1840 in Glasgow, Scotland and he obtained his education from the ‘Quicker Seminary’ at Queenswood, Hampshire after which he joined the Gla Thandi Thandi Pawansgow Academy for higher studies. Finally, in 1862 he cleared the Indian civil services exam and became a Civil Servant in India.
Give details of the recommendations given by the Hunter Commission on Secondary Level Education?
The commission also praised the quality of Secondary Level Education provided in the British occupied areas, particularly the region of Bengal, where the system of grants-in-aid was in operation. Under this system, the government provided financial aid to set up schools for private institutions. Therefore, it was recommended that the responsibility of the secondary schools should be handed over to the private enterprises in a phase-wise manner and the government should provide the monetary grants in aid for the same. This Commission also recommended following a principle of ‘Payments by Results’ to provide the grant in aid for the setup and functioning of the schools. It recommended that a greater emphasis must be paid to providing moral and physical education in the schools to develop the character and personality of the students studying in the schools. For this, it was recommended that the professors and the principal of the various schools should provide lectures on moral education to the students.