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PUBLIC INSTRUCTION AND POLICY
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father would have given thirty years previously, to the effect that he was bound to enlighten the people, although he was precluded, as a Governor, from teaching Christianity.

In 1846 he promulgated the result of educational enquiries throughout the country, which proved that 'less than five per cent. of the youths who are of an age to attend school obtain any instruction, and the instruction which they do receive is of a very imperfect kind.' Thereon he framed a scheme, which scheme provided for the examining of all indigenous schools by Government Inspectors, the instituting of scholarships for the most deserving of their pupils, the maintenance of several State schools in the interior of every district to serve as models. Naturally it was desirable to have a school in every village; but if that were impracticable, he would have at least one for each group of neighbouring villages, so that instruction might be obtainable within a reasonable distance, and within reach of every village. His own language was as follows: 'The object is to stimulate the people to exertions on their own part to remove ignorance; the means of effecting this object may be sought in that feature of the Revenue System which provides for the annual registration of landed property' ... 'This scheme contemplates drawing forth the energies of the people for their own improvement, rather than actually supplying to them the means of instruction at the cost of Government. Persuasion, assistance, and encouragement are the means to be