HC Deb 15 October 1941 vol 374 cc1355-6
31. Mr. Sorensen

asked the Undersecretary of State for the Colonies how many schools for girls above and below the age of 10, respectively, exist in Northern Nigeria and the number of girls in attendance; what steps are being taken to develop education in that area; whether there is any resistance to development; and what steps are being taken to secure an expanding supply of trained teachers?

Mr. George Hall

As the answer is rather long and contains figures, I will, with my hon. Friend's permission, circulate it in the OFFICIAL REPORT.

Mr. Sorensen

Is it not correct that educational development in this area is, in fact, inadequate, and could the hon. Gentleman at least indicate whether any special steps' are taken to encourage educational development?

Mr. Hall

The hon. Member will see from the reply what steps are being taken.

Following is the answer:

Girls' schools in Northern Nigeria are not subdivided according to ages in the manner suggested in the first part of my hon. Friend's Question In nearly all Native Administration and Mission Schools, the classes are co-educational. On 31st March, 1940, there were in the Native Administration elementary schools 1,415 girls, as against 1,118 in 1938, and 795 in 1937. In the five Native Administration schools providing specifically for girls there were 179 girls, making a total of 1,594 in Native Administration schools as against 1,309 in 1938. At the same date there were 3,944 girls in Mission schools (3,433 in 1938) which, in the main, provide for southerners living in the Northern Provinces or for non-Moslem areas. The particular need for trained African teachers is recognised, and, as a start to meet this need, a Training Centre was opened at Sokoto in October, 1939, with 21 pupils. The students are mostly young girls who need much help and supervision. Increasing interest has been shown in female education in the Northern Provinces during recent years, and the prejudices against girls' education are now breaking down. There is no special desire for segregation, and in several places where separate girls' classes were formed with a great deal of caution some years ago, the girls now mix and are taught with the boys.