EDUCATION AND CULTURE

HISTORICAL BACKGROUND

IT MAY BE NOTED THAT SOME SORT OF SYSTEM imparting education was in existence in ancient and mediaeval times although no precise and definite date is available. The education by heritage might be considered as one of the ways of imparting it during those times. It is also likely that schools and pathshalas were organised by the learned in various communities for imparting instructions in the various fields of knowledge then available. The system of education that prevailed when we come to semi-modern times, i.e., in about 1853 when Berar was a part of Nizams dominion and was assigned to the East India Company has been described by the old Gazetteer of Buldhana published in 1910. It says "Before Assignment no schools were supported by Government, and the condition of keeping schools was not attached to grants of land or money. Sanskrit was taught to a few Brahman boys, and Marathi to Hindus of the lower castes. A few munshis also taught Persian to Muhammadan boys. Hindu teaching was given for a fee, but Muhammadan teaching was free. The Education Department was introduced in 1866, and middle and lower class schools were opened. The following statistics of schools and scholars show the progress of education: -

The District has no High School, but possesses seven English Middle Schools with 1,402 scholars, and 30 Vernacular Middle Schools with 3,018 scholars.

The total number of primary schools is 122, with 6,376 schools. Seventy-six schools containing 1,766 scholars are result aided primary schools. The District has only 13 girls' schools with 560 scholars. One hundred and seventy-six girls are learning in boys' schools. One Mission girls' school containing 101 scholars exists at Khamgaon which is maintained by private subscriptions without assistance from Government. Of the total of 12,663 scholars, 4,420 were in receipt of secondary, and 8,243 of primary education." [Gazetteer of Buldhana, 1910, p. 391-92.]

After the British Irmly established their rule in India, they felt the need of imparting western education to the people and hence in Nagpur District one Mr. Cooper started a school imparting education on the western style in 1858. The system soon spread and extended throughout the Berar in 1869.

During the years from 1862 to 1864 the Government-run Indian English Middle Schools were started at taluka places such as Malkapur and Chikhli, Mehkar and Buldhana by the Chief Commissioner of Central Provinces and Berar. During the years from 1869 to 1870, the I.E.M. Schools were started at Khamgaon and Jalgaon. The I.E.M. School at Khamgaon was upgraded in the year 1917 and I.E.M. School, Buldhana, was upgraded in the year 1928. The starting of schools under Government auspices encouraged a few private individuals with the result that western style schools were started and run by private institutions.

Growth of Literacy.- Since then, there has been rapid growth in the number of primary institutions accompanied by a growth in the literacy percentages. Facilities for secondary education also steadily improved.

The percentage of literacy in the district for total males and females since 1901 is as follows: -

During the period from 1911 to 1931 there was a rise of 3 per cent in the literacy of the total population in the district. During the same period the percentage of literacy among males rose from 7.98 to 14.31 i.e., a rise of 6.33 per cent while the increase in percentage of female literacy was 0.80 per cent during the same period. During the period from 1931 to 1951, the percentage of literacy rose from 7.74 in the year 1931 to 20.78 in 1951, i.e., an increase of 13.04 per cent. The percentage of male literacy rose by 18.01 and that of female literacy by 8.05 per cent during the same period.

There was a rapid growth in the number of primary and secondary institutions during the decade 1951-61. The district literacy rates, however, are still below the State average. Expansion of educational facilities during the first two Five-Year Plans and implementation of compulsory primary education have helped to raise the literacy rates since 1951.

Within the district, the percentage of literacy is highest in Khamgaon tahsil (30.84 per cent) and lowest in Mehkar tahsil (22.47 per cent). For urban areas Chikhli tahsil has the highest literacy for total population and for males. This is because of the location of the district headquarters within the tahsil. Female literacy is highest in Khamgaon tahsil.

Average literacy rates for males is as high as 41.15 per cent because of the high figures for age groups 15-34 and 35-59. In case of females the highest figure for age group 5.14 indicates that female education has been receiving attention only recently.

The following statement shows the classification of literates in different categories as per 1961 Census: -

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