REVIEWS , 179 



method of teaching and to the highly developed memorising faculty which charac- 

 terises so many Indian students. Technical and industrial studies . . . offer a less 

 easy and less lucrative career. . . . Were industrial employment assured, students 

 would readily come forward and technological institutions would fill and multiply." 

 Yet the teaching of science has not been entirely stagnant. T It has become a regular 

 subject of instruction in Bombay, has become compulsory in the high schools of 

 Madras and in the Madras matriculation examination, and optional in the 

 corresponding examinations of the Punjab and Allahabad. The curriculum in 

 science for the Bombay matriculation examination is on liberal lines and is far less 

 dry and formal than in any matriculation examination in Great Britain. 



Speaking generally, the examination evil is very prominent. The schools are 

 dominated by the system of external examinations, the passing of which is essential 

 for employment. " Considerable truth is lent to the idea that the modicum of 

 knowledge which can be acquired by a close study and memorising of the text pays 

 better than general mental development." 



The influence of the war on progress has, of course, been harmful ; yet it has 

 not been wholly adverse : " It has excited interest," says the Bombay report, 

 " among people of all ranks and all ages in great world issues, enhanced their 

 historical and geographical knowledge, broadened their outlook, . . . and united 

 them in the common endeavour of all parts of the empire to contribute toward its 

 successful prosecution." One direct effect of the war has been the awakening of 

 education in Mesopotamia. A new school for teachers and six Government schools 

 have been established there. Six other schools are in receipt of State aid, and a 

 school for instruction in surveying has been opened. 



Substantial progress has been made toward the Government of India's resolution 

 of 1913, which indicated as an aim the doubling of the number of primary schools 

 and pupils at no distant date. Thus the public expenditure on education has 

 increased by over 50 per cent. ; the number of pupils has grown by 16 per cent. ; 

 and the position of the teachers has been ameliorated. The 16 per cent, may 

 seem small as compared with the 50, but the expenditure of every additional pound 

 sterling has resulted in the addition of one pupil to the enrolment. Who would 

 dare say that the money has been wasted ? 



During the quinquennium, not a little has been done to improve the position of 

 education for girls, though great difficulties, especially of the social kind, have to 

 be overcome. The number of girls under instruction has increased by 29 per cent. 

 More striking still, the number of women training as teachers has grown by 74 per 

 cent. ; and two excellent colleges for women have been opened in Madras. The 

 special difficulties in the way of education for the Muhammadans and certain wild 

 tribes and depressed classes are also yielding in a remarkable manner. 



Coming to higher education : the five universities of Calcutta, Bombay, Madras, 

 the Punjab, and Allahabad were founded between 1857 and 1887 ; and until quite 

 recently the number had not been increased. These universities are mainly 

 affiliating bodies, their chief work consisting in the prescription of courses and in 

 the conduct of examinations. Development has taken place in these universities. 

 Thus that of Calcutta now maintains a large law college, has a college of science 

 which is primarily intended for research, and has instituted a department of 

 experimental psychology. The resolution of 1913 called attention to the necessity 

 " to restrict the area over which the affiliating universities have control by secur- 

 ing in the first instance a separate university for each of the leading provinces in 

 India, and secondly to create new local teaching and residential universities within 

 each of the provinces " Since then, the following have come into existence : 



