Third Report on the State of Education in Bengal: Including Some Account of the State of Education in Behar, And a Consideration of the Means Adapted to the Improvement and Extension of Public Instruction in Both Provinces

William Adam’s Third Report on the State of Education in Bengal (1838) presents a foundational account of indigenous education in 19th-century Bengal and Bihar. Surveying five districts, Adam identified over 2,500 vernacular schools offering instruction in Bengali, Hindi, Sanskrit, Persian, and Arabic, commonly held in homes, temples, and mosques. He estimated 30,915 students, with a literacy rate of 5.8%. The report also emphasized home-based learning and low teacher salaries (Rs. 5–8/month). As one of the earliest literacy surveys in India, it provides valuable insight into traditional education systems before the widespread adoption of colonial, English-medium instruction.