26. The finance of the institution continues in a flourishing condition. An abstract statement of receipts and disbursements is noted in the margin, which shews that though there has been a diminution in the number Finance. of pay scholars and consequent falling off in the collection of schooling fees this year, all disburse Books, Scholarships,.. 1506 10 7 ments without Prizes,... drawing of assignments allotted by Government from the Parliamen tary grant. 230 0 0 the 61822 17 Pautshala. 27. The number of pupils on the roll on the 30th September, 1850, amounted to 208 against 210 of last year. They are all Hindus and pay scholars, and are classified as under: 28. The ages of the pupils vary from 4 to 8 years, at the latter age they are generally sent to English schools. 29. The Pautshala is chiefly resorted to by the children of both the rich and middle classes of the Hindu community among whom it is held in great estimation. Changes in the Instructive Establishment. 30. During the past session Soorjeekanth Surma, the fourth teacher, and Colleykanth Surma, seventh teacher, were removed for protracted absence without leave, and the appointments have been filled up by promotion within the school, and by the appointments of Raddanath Surma and Dinnonoth Surma to the last two places. 31. The annual general examination of the pupils was conducted by Babu Ram Chunder Mitter Examinations. of the Hindu College, assisted by the College pundits, and his report is annexed: "It gives me much pleasure to have it again in my power to report upon the Pautshala, an institution in which, from a variety of circumstances, I am deeply interested. "As the classes in this institution are arranged, I find that there are twentyfive students in the first, twenty-five in the second, twenty-three in the third, twenty-six in the fourth, twenty-eight in the fifth, thirty-seven in the sixth, and forty-three in the seventh. The majority of the pupils of the last four classes read with tolerable ease and fluency and appeared to understand fairly what they had gone through. With few exceptions in each of these classes, it seems that there is a decided improvement this year in their spelling. The seventh or the very last class, which contains forty-three extremely young lads, an unusual number to form an elementary class in any school, should be reduced, so as to enable one master to devote to all the pupils that attention and care, which are especially necessary to bring up boys of so tender an age. The result of the examination of the third class was, on the whole, satisfactory, as almost every one of the students gave correct meanings of the passage in which they were tested. The first and second classes were examined in a part out of their class books, Burnomallah part II. and Hitopodesh. They read with fluency and correctness, and explained with accuracy the most difficult words that occurred in the course of their reading. They have a fair idea of the elements of grammar, and worked sums in multiplication and division with great rapidity; but they signally failed in geography, in which their knowledge appears to be exceedingly imperfect, and it is expected, that instruction in that branch should be given next year with greater care and system. The total number of pupils, in this institution in the present year, amounts to two hundred and seven, against two hundred and four of last year, and against four hundred and sixty in the year 1840, when it first commenced its operations. This diminution in its number is chiefly to be accounted for to the rapid circulation of its students, there being scarcely any inducement for them to remain any length of time. They have not the privilege of looking forward to any rewards or distinctions, to which boys of other Government colleges and schools are eligible. It would, therefore, I think be not altogether injudicious, if the Committee deem it expedient to send one or two deserving lads annually as a free student either to the Hindu College or the Branch School by way of scholarship, and at the same time modify the 63rd clause of the admission rules of the Hindu College in favour of the Pautshala." 32. With reference to the examiner's report, prizes have been awarded to the meritorious students according to list annexed: 1 Preoumbur Nauth Mitter. | 2 Deno Nauth Gongoly. 1 Sitta Nauth Ghose. 1 Debraj Banerjya. FOURTH CLASS. 1 Nocoor Chunder Bose. | 2 Coylas Chunder Dutt. FIFTH CLASS. | 2 Herumbo Nauth Chatterjya. SIXTH CLASS. | 2 Mohender Nauth Shome. 1 Preo Nauth Mookerjya. I 2 Opoorbo Kisto Bose. Building. 33. The building is scarcely in a habitable state for want of periodical repairs. The Committee is in communication with the Council of Education on the subject, but the completion of a satisfactory arrangement has been unavoidably delayed. 54 Branch School. 35. The number of students on the roll, on the 30th September 1850, amounted to 440 against 460 of last year: they are all Hindus and classified as follows: 36. This school is chiefly resorted to by the children of the middle class of the Hindu community, and is held in great esteem. 37. The only change in the instructive establishment was by the death of Beny Loll Mitter, twelfth master. His place was filled up by promotion within the school, and in the last place Bunkobehary Newgy, a student of the Hooghly College and a holder of a fourth class certificate, was appointed. Change in the Instructive Establishment. 38. There has been no change in the course of study, but the following additional rules have been enAdditional Rules. acted for the management of the school. 1st. That no student of the Branch School who does not obtain 120 marks in the present scholarship examination be promoted this year to the collegiate senior school. 2ndly. That of the thirty pupils who are entitled by the rules of the school to free promotion to the Hindu College, none be so promoted after this year unless he be fit to enter the College department. 3rdly. That candidates for junior scholarships shall be entitled to the same privileges as those of the Zillah schools according to the amended scholarship rules. 4thly. That there be three classes in the senior department instead of two, and they respectively preserve the same standard of study, as the three senior classes of the collegiate school. 39. Seven boys of the first class were selected this year to compete for junior scholarships, after a Examination, preliminary examination of the whole class by the Principal. All other classes were examined by Princpial Lodge, Professor Rees, and Mr. Vaughan, assisted by Babu Isserchunder Saha. The reports of the examiners are annexed: The following is the Principal's report: "SECOND CLASS, SENIOR Department. "Number of students ten. “The arithmetic of this class is decidedly inferior, the majority of the boys in it being unable even to copy a question in fractions from dictation. In Euclid they are much better, and did they not generally write out in such a dirty and slovenly manner, I should pronounce them very good. A written examination in history was very creditable to the whole class, but they only passed a very moderate one in geography. Omesh Chunder Mookerjea should not be promoted. "THIRD CLASS SENIOR DEPARTMENT. "Number of students eighteen. "It appears to me that these boys have been badly grounded in many respects, and that books, much too difficult for them, have been put into their hands. In arithmetic they wrote slowly and inaccurately and their handwritings are scarce legible. Their explanation of a passage of poetry was generally a failure, but they passed an exceedingly good examination in history and a good one in geography, and if a little more attention was paid to grammar they would write English very well indeed. "At your request* I examined the pupils of the Hindu College Branch School, junior department, in their arithmetical attainments. To that end I proposed questions adequate to the proportional abilities of the young students, who are divided into three classes. I cannot report of their proficiencies not having examined these classes last year, but taking the tender ages of the students into consideration, they acquitted themselves very well indeed. Let me mention on the present occasion, that the boys are remarkably welldisciplined, doing credit to Mr. Twentyman, and also to point out, as deserving of promotion, the names of those boys who solved either the most of or all the questions proposed. |