The report on the “Results of the Educational Census in November 1871” casts some interesting light on the sharp abyss in Pyall School in the Presidency of Madras. The educational census was to find out the exact state of education in Madras, as shown by the number of schools, their teaching standards and the number of their pupils.
In this era, the Pyall School was an important aspect not only in education, but also in the social and religious life of people.
The author of the Census Report tried to emphasize the difference in paying for teachers at school for well-entrusting and those at the poor school.
“We assume that the son of a decent writer, who is to be first sent to the nearest school of Pyall, whose teacher will almost certainly be Brahmin,” writes the author.
For this reason, a happy day must first be selected and then the teacher comes to the house of the new pupil along with all his scholars.
“Before the Boy is Handed Over the Master, Pooja to Ganapati Or Ganesa is Performed by the Family Purohit, and Then to Sarasvati, the Goddess of Learning, in the presence of the Lad’s Father and Male Relations to Everybody Present.
The teacher then dresses the substances, sits alongside the proposed scholar, makes it repeat prayer with Ganesa, asks for wisdom, and that his study procedure can be happy and successful and forces him to repeat the whole alphabet three times.
“Then a flat container containing dry rice will be brought and the teacher leads the pupil’s finger to write the names of the deities that serve, whether Vish or Siva. Then he closes the ceremony.”
All school boys are presented with loser rice, Bengal gram and sugar mixed together, each of a handful; A monitor or an older boy who acts as a teacher assistant also receives several PICE. “Now the boy is progressing in a parade to school, where he is again forced to repeat the alphabet three times.”
The procession will then return to its house and disperse for the day. The next day begins an ordinary school career of the boy, ”says the report that he added that the monthly school fee will decide between the teacher and the father. This amount differs with the parent’s resources,” but he will never pull eight Annas a month. “
Pyall school for the poor
On the other hand, things were different in Pyall’s school for the poor children. “There is no entry fee or monthly payment until the alphabet is fully mastered. Nor are there to start a new book or chapter. A small payment is made every month, say, say, and say, say, and a little presence every fourteenth,” according to the report.
“The same ritual is done in Dassera as in a more respectable school, but the profits of the master are smaller in ratio and the like for each festival throughout the year,” he adds.
“The combination of all revenue sources, a decent Pyall School teacher with about twenty -five pupils will receive from 5 to 25 GBP per mens, while his colleague working in a bad location does not get more than £ 10 to £ 10,” the report said.
In Mussulman schools, no monthly fee was charged and the teacher was completely dependent on gifts. So whenever a new chapter of the Qur’an started, according to the wealth of the family, pupils had to be given to four Annas so many Rupees.
“At the beginning of each festival, such as Muharam, SHUB-I-BURAT, RAMZAN, PUKREED, etc. The teacher also receives gifts-the most than one or less than one fanam,” he says.
Published – 6. August 2025 05:30
