Expansion of Primary Education.

THE statement of the progress of education in India during 1915-16 which was laid on the table at a recent meeting of the Imperial Council furnishes abundant material for criticism. Regarding the expansion of primary education, it shows that the annual rate of increase in the number of pupils in pre-war years was nearly 200,000. But in 1914-15 there was a decrease of 86,000, and this was stated to be more apparent than real, for it was brought about by the exclusion of the statistics relating to the Native States. Then again the report says: "The figures for the close of 1915-16 show a total of over 5 million pupils in boys’ primary schools which represents an apparent increase of 14,270. This, however, is an overstatement, certain institutions previously classed as ‘other schools’ being now shown as primary schools, and a decrease of nearly 63,000 having accordingly taken place in the former category.