Burkumpta.-The Collector speaks well of this school, but I fear it must shortly be closed. It is situated in a valuable Pergunnah, the property of Baboo Debendernath Tagore, who erected the school house. The whole Pergunnah is now leased to Mr. Delaney, who positively refuses to afford any assistance to the school. Sufficient for the repairs this year was procured from Debendernath Tagore, but it cannot be expected that he will now continue his support. "The Collector mentions that a subscription school has lately been established at this place, in which the same books are read as in the Government school, and that several boys have left the Government school in consequence, though the cost at the subscription school is 8 annas per mensem. I have called for further information on this subject, should the attendance at the Government school have fallen off considerably, it shall be at once closed. "Kusbeh.—The Collector reports that this school is useless,' that 'a general wish was expressed that it should be put a stop to,' I have therefore ordered that it should be closed and the master dismissed. "The Collector representing that the residents of Pergunnah Noormiggur have intimated a wish that a school should be established there, he has been requested to ascertain whether they will erect a school house and enter into an agreement to keep it in repair. "There is but one school in this district, and that at the sudder station, Noakhallee. The Collector reports― The inhabitants attach no value whatever to the Vernawould the boys attend at all but that they have Bullooah. 'cular school nor He says in another place half their time. hitherto been permitted to devote most of their 'time to acquiring from the teacher a smatter'ing of English, that the school does more 'harm than good, for half of the boy's time is wasted in learning the 'mere elements of English, which can never be of any service to nine 'out of ten, that unless an English teacher can be allowed it would be 'better that the school should be abolished altogether.' "It is true that the inhabitants do not highly value the Vernacular teaching, but they take advantage of the school, and the average attendance shews nearly as many as one person can usefully attend to. I see no objection whatever to the master teaching those who are desirous of learning it the elements of English. Instead of being useless, this instruction may be of the greatest advantage to the boys. They are for the most part the connexions of the native officers employed in the offices of the Magistrate and Collector of Bullooah. Many may be able to afford to send their children to the Noakhallee school who would not afford to send them 60 or 70 miles to Comillah or Chittagong, and by means of the little English learned at Noakhallee they may eventually procure admission to the Government English schools. It is most advantageous in every point of view, boys joining the English schools with a little knowledge of English-and instead of prohibiting English in the Vernacular schools I would encourage all boys under twelve years of age to learn it. There would then be no lack of pupils." Most of the suggestions in the above report were assented to by His Lordship, and with regard to the introduction of English at the school of the sudder station of Noakhallee, a further report was called for on this point, the study of English being against the original aim and scope of Vernacular education, and not to be introduced without strong and urgent reasons for the same. |