It has been for the longest time the vision of this Government to ensure that everyone born under our protection will receive the same rights to education as anyone else throughout the British Empire. Many of us warmly received the Indian Education Act as something that transcended ethnicity, caste and language - something that brought us together. I would like to congratulate you all on making that dream a reality, we are seeing constantly the fruits of this initiative, our peoples are all come together as one - citizens of the Empire, and people of India.
This year we are beginning the National Mathematics Prize a true fruit of our labours. We will be opening the gates to all Indians to enter this field. It will be a goal to strive for and a reward to give students the lift the need to reach the best universities no matter what their caste or background. It is my opinion that the fact we can begin to offer this prize is evidence enough that our education plan has worked and that India is a better place for it!
However I know this is a time of fear for many of you. Violence against teachers has been on the rise. I find it totally abhorrent that people would attack innocents only because they sought to teach our children and pass down knowledge. Branches of the British Army in India are as we speak being mobilised to perform police duties to ensure the safety of teachers and students alike. Not a year has gone by recently where there has not been some high profile attack on education and our administration will not stand for it, neither shall the people of India.
The Colonial Administration is making a promise to you teachers this day: we will do everything in our power to stop the violence against the innocent and bring to justice those who would stand in the way of our children's future. This we promise you, and let it be a promise to all Indians, to every last parent and child, your future is safe.
