Hunter Commission (1882-83)

Hunter Commission 1882

A brief history of the Hunter Commission in Education 

• In 1882, the British Empire decided that it was necessary to assess the Indian education system and remove any defects that had crept into it
• In February 1882, Lord Rippon appointed the Indian Education Commission under the chairmanship of William Hunter

Also see: UPSC Preparation Books

The objective of the Hunter Commission 1882 

• To give suggestions for primary education reforms
• To figure out whether government educational institutions should function as usual
• To evaluate the standard of education provided by missionaries
• To determine if the private Indian educational institutions require encouragement from the government

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Recommendations of the Hunter Commission on Education 

• The Hunter Commission of 1882 recommended that the medium of primary education should be the mother tongue
• More training schools should be established for primary teachers’ training
• The establishment of a model government high school was recommended in the commission
• It was recommended in the Hunter Education Commission that the school curriculum should emphasize practical aspects and local needs
• Religious education was banned in government schools. However, private institutions could set their religious curriculum
• Several recommendations were made in the Hunter Education Commission to facilitate proper education of backward classes
• The commission also made several recommendations to encourage the education of Muslims and provide them with proper facilities

The Hunter Commission 1882 tried to improve the Indian education system by developing proper infrastructure, improving primary education, and adopting a policy of religious neutrality.