Wood’s Despatch of 1854
Charles Wood was a British Liberal politician and Member of Parliament. He served as Chancellor of the Exchequer from 1846 to 1852. Later he became the President of the Board of Control of the East India Company. In 1854 he sent the “Wood’s despatch” to the Governor General Lord Dalhousie.
As per this despatch:
- An education department was to be set in every province.
- Universities on the model of the London University be established in big cities such as Bombay, Calcutta and Madras.
- At least one government school be opened in every district.
- Affiliated private schools should be given grant in aid.
- The Indian natives should be given training in their mother tongue also.
- Wood’s Despatch is called Magnacarta of English Education in India.
- In accordance with Wood’s despatch, Education Departments were established in every province and universities were opened at Calcutta, Bombay and Madras in 1857 on the model of the London University.
- Later more universities were opened in Punjab in 1882 and at Allahabad 1887.