Consider the following statements regarding Wood’s Dispatch of 1854 :

1. It recommended English as the medium of instruction for higher studies.

2. It laid stress on female education and vocational training.

Which of the above statements is/are correct?

Question

Question

This question was previously asked in

69th BPSC Prelims Exam Official Paper (Held On: 30 Sept, 2023)

Answer 1

The Correct answer is Both 1 and 2.

Key Points

Wood's Dispatch of 1854, also known as the Magna Carta of Indian education, was a significant policy statement and educational reform proposed by Sir Charles Wood, who was the President of the Board of Control in the British East India Company.
This dispatch had a profound impact on the development of education in India during the colonial period.
The dispatch recognized the importance of female education and proposed measures to encourage the education of girls. Hence statement 1 is correct.
It recommended English as the medium of instruction for higher studies. Wood's Dispatch emphasized the importance of promoting education in vernacular languages to reach a wider audience.
It recognized the need to provide education in languages spoken by the local population rather than imposing English. Hence statement 2 is correct.
Wood's Dispatch stressed the need for training teachers and improving the quality of education. It recommended the establishment of teacher training institutions.