Sarva Shiksha Abhiyan Annual Work Plan 2002-03 & Perspective Plan 2002-07 Punjab

Abstract

Before the advent of British, the traditional system of education was practiced in the district like in other parts of the state/country. The Maktabas were the scat of learning for Koran in Arabic; Gurmukhi schools taught Gurmukhi and Adi Granth; Pathshalas taught Hindi and little arithmetic and in Majahjani school teaching of lande and Sarafi was conducted. There were also Persian and Sanskrit schools, it is an admitted fact that Amritsar was an important and main centre of Sikh Learning, where 300 Gurmukhi schools existed. Also there was not a single mosque, gurdwara or a temple where school did not exist. The largest Pathshala was run by Pandit Achint Ram who taught Sanskrit grammar to about 75 pupils and prepared them for Pragya and visharad examination of Punjab University, Lahore. Likewise there was the largest maktaba located in the Khair-Ud-Din mosque in Hall Bazaar, where about 200 pupils were imparted instructions in Koranic studies in Arabic. Besides Persian was also taught. The largest Gurmukhi school was located in Akal Bunga where Bhai Atma Singh taught Adi-Granth in Gurmukhi to about 100 to 150 students.