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One of the most important questions for the consideration of Govern- 

 ment is technical and scientific education bearing on arts and industries. 

 How the existing arts and industries of the country may be improved 

 or what new ones may be introduced are questions that demand the 

 early attention of Government. At present there exist but a few schools 

 for the benefit of those who seek instruction in arts and industries. 

 The foremost of such institutions is the School of Arts in Madras, in 

 which the attendance in 1890-91 was over 400 pupils, who received 

 instruction in some of the ornamental arts and higher . industries. 

 Schools have also been opened in some of the larger trading towns in 

 the mofussil, such as Eajahmundry, Kumbakonam, Negapatam, Guntur, 

 Madura and Nazareth, in which drawing, carpentry, and a few other 

 industries are taught. Industrial sections have also been attached to 

 Government Normal Schools in the mofussil. All these appear, however, 

 to be crude and imperfect attempts, pending a satisfactory solution of 

 the question as a whole — beset, as that is, with great difficulties, finance 

 being not the least of them. 



In the sketch above given nothing more has been attempted than 

 the barest outline of the progress of education during a period of twenty 

 years, beginning with 1 870-71 and ending with 1890-91, the last official 

 year for which statistics were available. Enough, it is believed, has 

 been said to show that education has spread far and wide in the coimtry, 

 and that nearly all classes of the community have come under its influ- 

 ence. There cannot be any doubt that this spread of education will 

 have an important effect on the future economic and moral condition 

 of the people. 



