ED UCATION 23
tion, by the opening of special schools and the sanction of increased
grants, &c. In x903-4 about 44,000 of these people were under in-
struction in 480 public schools. Five institutions situated on the hills
are mainly intended for the hill tribes. The part played by the mission-
ary bodies in the diffusion of education among all classes, and among
the depressed in particular, is very considerable.
The total expenditure on education amounted in 1903-4 to 6.61akhs,
of which about 1-3 lakhs was derived from fees, &c. Of this total, 2q-4
per cent. was devoted to primary schools.
The State maintains two Arts colleges at Trivandrum, one for boys,
teaching up to the B.A. standard, and the other for girls, teaching up to
the F.A. standard; and also a law college. In addition, three private
colleges-the Scott Christian College at Nagercoil, the Holy Angels'
Convent College at Trivandrum, and the Church Missionary Society's
College at Kottayam-teach up to the F.A. standard. Of the six train-
ing schools, two are maintained by the State: one for male, and the
other for female teachers. There are twelve special schools : the
Sanskrit College, the Industrial School of Arts, and the Reformatory,
all at Trivandrum and under State management; eight aided schools,
the Sri Muila Rama Varma Technical Institute at Nagercoil, two
schools for carpentry at Mulakumucd and Attingal, and also two schools
in these places for teaching girls lace-making, the Native Technical
Institute at Trivandrum, the Rama Varma Technical and Industrial
School at Changanacheri, and the Church Missionary Society's Indus-
trial School at Kottayam ; and one private (unaided) institution, the
technical school for carpentry at Takkalai. The work in the State
Industrial School comprises two branches: industry, including lacquer-
work, carpet-weaving, carving, &c.; and art, comprising drawing, design,
and painting. The school holds a prominent position among those of
Southern India. At the recent Delhi Exhibition, Travancore ivory-
carving won a gold medal. The extraction of fibre from plantains and
the weaving of cloth and turbans promise to be the source of a large
and profitable industry, though further improvements are still required.
For purposes of administrative management and inspection, the State
is divided into three educational ranges, each under an Inspector
in direct correspondence with the Diwan. The vernacular and the
English schools, which till 1894 were under separate officers, have all
been placed under the Inspectors, excepting the chief State institu
tions at the capital. A textbook committee selects or arranges for the
preparation of suitable textbooks.
For many years the only newspaper in Travancore was an English
journal published at Nagercoil; which was started under mission
auspices. Of late, the development of the press has been very rapid ;
and there were in i goo-1 twelve vernacular papers and magazines, and
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