EDUCATION AND CULTURE

HISTORICAL BACKGROUND

Before the British took up the education of this district under their care every big village had a school, kept generally by a Brahmin and attended both by boys and girls, under twelve years of age. Since the introduction of State education, these private schools gradually vanished. In 1881-82 there were only twenty private schools of the type, with an attendance of 426 pupils. Arithmetic was specially attended to in these schools. Reading and writing were less cared for.

Under British regime the first State primary school was opened at Mahad, in 1840. Sixteen years later, in 1856 a second school was opened at Nagothana. In 1861, nine more schools were opened at Alibag, Mahad, Mangaon, Pen and Roha. In 1881, it was found that there were 82 State schools with 5,021 pupils. The number of primary schools in the year 1960 was 1,368 with 1,26,107 pupils on the rolls.

The first girls' school was opened at Alibag, in 1861. Now, there are 23 girls' schools in this district. Besides, a large number of girls attend boys' schools.

Regarding secondary education, it can be said that some stray efforts made privately before 1879 did not bear fruit. These schools, opened at Roha, Alibag, Mahad and Pen had to be closed either for want of sufficient attendance or owing to inability of students to pay the fees. Except a mission school, opened in 1879 at Alibag, there was no English school in the district. The number of secondary schools has now risen to 37 in 1961. The Konkan Education Society, established in 1918, has taken considerable responsibility of secondary education in this district and is managing as many as eleven secondary schools, two of which are meant exclusively for girls.

Literacy and Educational Standards.

The educational standards in the district are in keeping with the general educational pattern in the country. The percentage of literates to the total population came to 19.20 in 1957-58 There were in 1957-58 the following educational institutions in the district: 29 for secondary education, 6,090 for primary education and 451 other educational institutions. Until 1961, there was no provision for higher education in the district, but the vacuum has now been tilled up as two colleges affiliated to the University of Poona have been started at Alibag and Mahad since June, 1961. They provide instructions in Arts and Science courses. The following few figures give an idea of the standard of literacy prevailing in the district according to 1951 census:-

*Sample population.

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