Sadler Commission or The Calcutta University Commission of 1917

The next important stage was the appointment of the Calcutta University Commission in 1917 under the Chairmanship of the late Sir Michael Sadler.

This Commission went into the question of secondary education and held the view that the improvement of secondary education was essential for the improvement of University education.

The Commission made the following important re- commendations:

1. The School course was to be for twelve years.
2. After Matriculation, student had to pass an Intermediate examination from the Intermediate College, which would provide for instruction in Arts, Science, Medicine, Engineering and Teaching etc; these colleges were to be run as independent institutions or to be attached to selected high schools.
3. The dividing line between the University and Secondary courses should properly be drawn at the Intermediate examination than at the Matriculation Examination.
4. The Commission recommended setting up a separate Board for secondary and intermediate education consisting of the representatives of Government, University, High Schools and Intermediate Colleges be established and entrusted with the administration and control of Secondary Education.
5. The duration of degree course should be limited to three years. Honours courses should be distinct from the regular pass courses.
6. Autonomous institutions were to be given more encouragement.
7. Centralised residential-teaching universities were to be encouraged. These institutions were also to be given autonomy to facilitate their day-to-day working.
8. Women education was to be encouraged in a big way.
9. The establishment of a special Board of women Education in the Calcutta University besides many other facilities that would help more and more women take up course in school, colleges and Universities.
10. Provisions of facilities was to be made for training teachers and setting up the Department of Education at the Universities of Calcutta and Decca.