§ 36. Mr. G. Brownasked the Secretary of State for the Colonies what plans the Government of British Guiana has for the provision of a satisfactory education system for the territory and, in particular, for technical schools and vocational training.
§ Mr. George HallAs the answer is necessarily rather long, I will, with my hon. Friend's permission, circulate it in the OFFICIAL REPORT.
§ Following is the reply:
§ The Government of British Guiana have given much consideration to the improvement of educational facilities in the Colony; but pending the completion and acceptance of the general Development Plan for the Colony a final decision on the general measure to he put in hand is not feasible.
§ Steps already taken in regard to technical schools and vocational training include the following there is a prevocational school known as the Kingston Trades Centre for Youths, Georgetown. It is planned to turn it into a junior technical school and eventually into a full technical high school. A free grant of £5,340 has been made from Colonial Development and Welfare funds for the appointment of a principal and a technical instructor. In addition there is the Carnegie Trade School providing vocational training for women. A free grant of £4,045, together with a supplementary grant of £625, has been made to provide evening classes in cookery and dress- 382 making, courses in domestic science for the general public and the training of teachers in domestic science.
§ Besides these two schools, vocational training is provided at an experimental community centre, at which a number of trades are taught; also elsewhere a Government primary school is working in cooperation with a land settlement scheme and a health centre and teaches improved farming and animal husbandry. For both these schemes grants have been made from Colonial Development and Welfare funds.