Poor Knowledge of English.

MR. Nelson Fraser, Examiner of English, found that the School Final candidates of the Bombay Presidency possess a poor knowledge of English and their pass percentage of 40 is very disappointing. He says that perhaps no more than 10 candidates out of a total of 153 in a particular school would be fit to join a University. Mr. H.T. Dudley, Inspector of Schools, remarks that even among the passed candidates very few would be able to carry on a sustained conversation in English. Other defects and faults are also pointed out, but what is the remedy? From the standpoint of the students, it may be easily pointed out that they devote more time to the study of English than to any other subject and also submit to all the rules and regulations. If any, the fault lies in the method of teaching, selection of text books, and other arrangements made by the Education Department.