Development of training colleges in Colonial Bengal (1908–1947), British India
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.63697/jessp.2025.10055Keywords:
Development of teacher training, Teacher education, Normal school, Colonial Bengal, British IndiaAbstract
Teacher education is a fundamental concept of every educational system. It is closely linked to society and shaped by a nation’s ethics, society, culture, and character. In India, teacher education in the modern era was significantly influenced by British colonial rule. Different committees were established to evaluate the system of teacher education and training during the British era. This study attempted to examine the history of teacher training in Colonial Bengal, British India. It aimed to explain when and why teacher training was institutionalized as a system of education during British India, with a particular reference to Bengal province. The study further aimed to identify and clarify the genesis, history, and nature of the teacher training institutions and their role in a historical context. The article provided a detailed case study of key institutions, notably David Hare Training College, Calcutta (1908), Patna Training College (1908), and Teachers’ Training College, Dacca (1910), highlighting their origins, curricula, staffing patterns, pedagogical approaches, and institutional challenges. The study revealed how these colleges functioned as a site for disseminating modern pedagogical ideas, emphasizing practical teaching, educational philosophy, and professional ideals of teaching.
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