EDUCATION AND CULTURE

LITERACY AND EDUCATIONAL STANDARDS

The Educational standards in the district are in keeping with the general educational pattern in the country. The gradual increase in the number of literates from 33,161 (for the former Satara district comprising the present Satara and Sangli districts) in 1911 to 2,21,231 in 1951 is a sufficient testimony to the fact that in the recent past conscious effort was being made by the State Government and some voluntary organisations for the spread of literacy and education. The percentage of literates to the total population came to 20.60 in 1957-58. However, as compared to some other districts of the State. Satara district has a comparatively large number of educational institutions. There were in 1957-58 the following educational institutions in the district: seven for higher education; 64 for secondary education; 1,347 for primary education and 922 other educational institutions. The following few figures give an idea of the level of literacy prevailing in the district according to the 1951 census: -

In the post independence period the district has made a distinct progress [The information has been supplied by the District Educational Inspector.] in the spread of literacy amongst the village population. In the year 1958-59 about 10,000 illiterate adults were turned literate, while during 1959-60 the number was almost doubled (i.e. rose upto 21,000). The success achieved in the field of social education was due to untiring efforts on the part of social workers, inspecting officers, local bodies and institutions; propaganda by means of pamphlets, speeches, bulletins, etc. and co-operation and enthusiasm of the villagers. In 1960 there were about 5,000 social education classes in the district with more than 1,00,000 adults on roll.

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