Discuss the various Elements of Wardha Scheme of Education. What was M.K. Gandhi's contribution towards Wardha Scheme of Education?
Answers
Answer:
the brief before the introduction part
Explanation:
Mahatma Gandhi introduces the Wardha Scheme of 1935. His main intention to introduce this scheme was to improve the prevailing system and aims of education in India.
Before we directly jumped into the Wardha Scheme of 1935, let us understand Indian education during the British rule and the historical background of the Wardha Scheme of 1935.Introduction
The concept of the Basic Education of Gandhi gives evidence of the creative genius of Gandhiji in the field of education. As a nationalist leader, he fully realized that the British system of education introduced by Lord Macaulay could not serve the socio-economic and cultural needs of the country. Its aim was to create a class of people who could assist the British administration by producing some clerks. The education system was urban-oriented which neglected the socio-cultural ethos and economic needs of the rural Indians. The English language dominates the course of study. Further, the objective of Lord Macaulay’s education was to create a group of intellectuals who were Indian in blood but European in taste and aptitude. Also, it neglects mass education and good citizenship training.
Gandhiji himself had said, “I am convinced that the present system of education is not only wasteful but positively harmful.” It was in this context that the concept of useful education to the millions of poor people of India through craftwork had emerged in the mastermind of this great thinker.
Historical Background of Wardha Scheme of 1935
As a Lawyer, Gandhi went to South Africa in 1893 in connection with a legal case to plead there. The case was settled and yet he preferred to stay there for long 20 years. During these years he saw the miserable condition of the poor African and Indian children there. He established the Tolstoy Farm at Transvaal and undertook the responsibility of training children including his own son.
He experimentally tried to design a system of education that was less costly but capable of training the hand and heart of children in a family environment. Also, he attained a commendable success in his method of serving the useful educational purpose of the Indian and African children there.
He returned to India in 1915 and established Sabarmati Ashram in his home state of Gujrat in the same year. The Ashram was able to draw women, children, and the illiterate adults in giving them useful education. Soon he became the spiritual father of the Ashram respectfully called ‘Bapu’.
Later on, he established Sewagram Ashram at Wardha in 1235. It was from here that he popularized his political as well as the educational ideals of the nation. He wrote a series of articles on his concept of basic education and published them in the newspaper ‘Harijan’. He wrote, “Literacy itself is not education. I would, therefore, begin the child’s education by teaching it a useful handicraft and enabling it to produce from the moment it begins its training.” Finally, he placed his Basic Education of Gandhi system to the nation in the Wardha Conference of 1937.
Wardha Education Conference
As a result of the provincial autonomy given to the states by the British administration popular governments were formed in different provinces in 1935. There was a strong public demand for making primary education free and compulsory and Congress Governments were committed to it. On the other hand, the provincial governments did not have the required sum of money to work out the plan. At this critical juncture, Mahatma Gandhi came forward with his proposed plan of mass-education which was self-supporting, free, and compulsory at the same time.
For this purpose, an All India Education Conference was held in Wardha on 22nd and 23rd October 1935. In this conference, it was attended by the eminent educationists, workers along with the Education Ministers of the seven states, and Congress leaders. Gandhi himself had presided over it.
Resolution of Wardha Conference on Primary Education
In this Wardha Conference after a good deal of discussion following important resolutions on primary education was passed.
Free and compulsory primary education must be provided for 7 years on a nationwide scale.
The medium of instruction should be the mother tongue.
Education for this period should center round a manual craft and productive work suitable for the local condition.
The system of education will be able to cover gradually the remunerations of the teachers.
However, the Conference could not wholeheartedly accept the fourth resolution which proposed for productivity in primary education through craft. A Committee was formed in the conference in order to formulate the necessary scheme of basic education to be worked out and frame a suitable curriculum. Dr. Zakir Hussian headed the committee with nine other members including Vinoba Bhave and Kaka Kalelkar. The Committee had submitted its report in two parts within a short period of time