Regarding Wood's Despatch, which of the following statements are true?

1. Grants-in-Aid system was introduced.

2. Establishment of universities was recommended.

3. English as a medium of instruction at all levels of education was recommended.

Select the correct answer using the code given below:

Question

Question

This question was previously asked in

Official UPSC Civil Services Exam 2018 Prelims Part A

Answer 1

The correct answer is 1 and 2.

Key Points

Wood's Despatch:

In 1854, Charles Wood prepared a Despatch on an educational system for India. It was considered the "Magna Carta of English Education in India".
This document was the first comprehensive plan for the spread of education in India.
Some of the provisions of Charles Wood Despatch are as follows -
1. It asked the Government of India to assume responsibility for the education of the masses, thus repudiating the 'downward filtration theory', at least on paper.
2. It systematized the hierarchy from vernacular primary schools in villages at the bottom, followed by Anglo-Vernacular High Schools and an affiliated college at the district level, and affiliating universities in the presidency towns of Calcutta, Bombay, and Madras.
3. It recommended a system of grants-in-aid to encourage private enterprise. Hence, statement 1 is correct.
4. It recommended English as the medium of instruction for higher studies and vernaculars at the school level. Hence, statement 3 is not correct.
5. The Despatch recommended the establishment of universities in the three Presidency towns of Calcutta, Bombay, and Madras. The universities were to be modeled after the London University and these were to have a senate consisting of a Chancellor, a Vice-Chancellor, and fellows who were nominated by the Government. Hence, statement 2 is correct.