the perceived problems and fragmentation of the scottish school system led to a process of secularisation, as the state took increasing control. from 1830 the state began to fund buildings with grants, then from 1846 it was funding schools by direct sponsorship. the 1861 education act removed the provision stating that scottish teachers had to be members of the church of scotland or subscribe to the westminster confession. in 1866 the government established the argyll commission, under whig grandee george campbell, 8th duke of argyll, to look into the schooling system. it found that of 500,000 children in need of education 200,000 were receiving it under efficient conditions, 200,000 in schools of doubtful merit, without any inspection and 90,000 were receiving no education at all. although this compared favourably with the situation in england, with 14 per cent more children in education and with relatively low illiteracy rates of between 10 and 20 per cent, similar to those in the best educated nations such as those in germany, the netherlands, switzerland and scandinavia, the report was used as support for widespread reform. the result was the education (scotland) act 1872, based on that passed for england and wales as the elementary education act in 1870, but providing a more comprehensive solution.