HC Deb 04 June 1930 vol 239 cc2159-60
29. Miss RATHBONE

asked the Under-Secretary of State for the Colonies if he will make a statement showing for North and South Nigeria, respectively, what has been done, by or with the assistance of the Government, for the education of native girls and women, including the names of institutions existing for the purpose, with the numbers of the staff and pupils at each and the amount, if any, of Government grant received?

Mr. LUNN

I have been asked to reply to this question. I regret that it is not possible to give detailed figures. Most of the assisted mission schools make provision for both boys and girls, but the expenditure on Government grants is not shown separately. The latest annual report on education in Nigeria gives a list of 18 assisted girls' schools with a total enrolment of 2,859 pupils in the Southern Provinces. In addition, there is the Government secondary girls' school at Queen's College, Lagos, which has 43 pupils. Its staff consists of one principal and three teachers, of whom two are Europeans. In the Northern Provinces there are several mission schools which provide some education for girls, and Government is now commencing two schools at Kano and Katsina in order to make a beginning in the Moslem areas. Fuller information will be found in the annual report of the Education Department of Nigeria, but it is not sufficient to enable me to give further details.

Miss RATHBONE

Will the hon. Member be kind enough to give particulars with regard to Queen's College in Southern Nigeria?

Mr. LUNN

I think the information will be found in the education report for Nigeria, but I have not got it here.

Mr. C. WILLIAMS

Can the hon. Member say how many schools there are in all? He said that there were several.

Mr. LUNN

The question relates to girls' schools, and I have dealt with that.