Teacher Education Under Colonial Rule: Key Developments in Pre-Independence India

Abstract

India maintains one of the most extensive teacher education systems in the world. The history of teacher education in India can broadly be divided into two phases: the pre-independence phase, encompassing ancient educational traditions (Vedic, Buddhist, Islamic, and British colonial), and the post-independence phase, spanning from 1947 to the present. The evolution of teacher education has continuously attracted scholarly interest due to its complex historical roots, shaped by external colonizers, indigenous reformers, and influential educationists. This article examines the principal landmarks in the history of teacher preparation during the British colonial era and aims to offer a clearer and more comprehensive understanding of how teacher education developed in India.