What was the traditional education system followed in India before the arrival of British? State any three reasons which made the British to change the educational policy in India?

The education system in India was traditional and unaware of the rapid developments in the west. Elementary education was quite widespread and imparted in pathshalas to the Hindus and in maktabs situated in mosques to Muslims. The students were taught to read, write and memorise various religious texts. Higher education was mostly in Sanskrit for Hindus and Persian for Muslims. Learning was confined to literature, religion, law, philosophy and logic. It did not promote original thinking and excluded the study of physical and natural sciences. Girls were seldom given education. Only some women from the higher classes had the privilege of receiving education.

Three reasons which made the British to change the educational policy in India were:

1. To cut the cost of administration by employing educated Indians to manage the large number of clerical posts in administration and British business concerns.
2. The British believed that educated Indians would help expand the markets for British manufacturers in India and would also reconcile the people of India to British rule as western education glorified the British conquerors of India.
3. The Christian missionaries believed that modern western education would help them in their work.