§ 8. Sir J. D. REESasked whether the Government has finally decided that there shall be no affiliations of either schools or colleges to the proposed Mahomedan University at Aligur; and whether the Government has taken into consideration the fact that funds were raised in all parts of India on the understanding that Mahomedan schools and colleges generally would benefit by the creation of the new university?
§ Mr. HAROLD BAKERThe question of allowing the proposed Mahomedan University to affiliate institutions at a distance has received prolonged and earnest consideration. The grant of the power of affiliation would place the new university in a different position from residential and teaching universities in other countries, and the Secretary of State believes that it would be opposed to the best educational opinion. It would also involve the dangers of conflict with existing universities, of lowering the standard and impairing the peculiar traditions of Aligur education, and of making the new university responsible for institutions in other parts of India which its governing body could not really control. For these reasons the Secretary of State is satisfied that the grant of the power of affiliation would be opposed to the best interests of Mahomedan education in India, and it has accordingly been decided to withhold it. The question of the relations between the university and schools is under consideration. The promoters of the university are being kept informed of the Secretary of State's views on the matter.