प्राचीन भारत में शिक्षा (डॉ. ए.एस. अल्तेकर - गुरुकुल एवं बौद्ध विहार शिक्षण इतिहास)

V] EDUCATIONAL CENTRES AND INSTITUTIONS. 107
tutions like professors in a modern college, nor were
they teaching any courses prescribed by any central
body like a modern university. Every teacher,
assisted by his advanced students, formed an institution
by himself. He admitted as many students as he
liked. He taught what his students were anxious to
learn. Students terminated their courses according
to their individual convenience. There were no degree
examinations, and therefore no degrees or diplomas.
Strength of private Schools : Jātakas usually
state that the 'world renowned' teachers of
Taxila used to have five hundred students under
their charge. This figure seems to be more
conventional than real, as has been shown at pp. 82-3.
We get only one instance in the Sutasoma Jātaka¹
of what appears to be a real number of students
reading under one teacher. Under the 'world
renowned' teacher of this Jātaka, we are told that
103 princes from different parts of the country were
learning archery. This teacher may have had very
probably many assistants under him. Normally
speaking, however, the number of students working
under one teacher does not seem to have been more
than 20 (ante, p. 82). The excavations at Taxila have
not so far unearthed any extensive buildings, which
can be taken to be big hostels or lecture halls,
necessary for big colleges having 500 students on
their rolls.
The Fame of Taxila : As a centre of learning
the fame of the city was unrivalled in the 6th century
B. C. In those days communications were so difficult
and dangerous that when their sons used to return
home, parents used to congratulate themselves on

1. Vol. V, p. 457