§ 18. Mr. Rankinasked the Secretary of State for the Colonies what is to be the place of religion and religious teaching in the new African university colleges.
§ Mr. Rees-WilliamsThe university colleges are autonomous institutions. The college authorities appreciate the place of religion in education and the need for providing arrangements for religious observance.
§ Mr. SkinnardWould it not be preferable, in view of the varied religions and races of the students admitted to these universities, for the study of religion to be made in the schools of philosophy in the form of a study of comparative theology?
§ Mr. Rees-WilliamsThis is a matter for the university authorities, and I could not intervene in it.
§ 19. Mr. Rankinasked the Secretary of State for the Colonies what use is being made of intelligence tests in the education of African children.
§ Mr. Rees-WilliamsIntelligence tests are not in systematic use in the education 371 of African children. The possibility of developing tests suitable for use in the various African territories is being examined in the Colonial Office, taking into account experiments carried out in Nigeria and the tests applied to African troops during the war.
§ Mr. RankinWould not my hon. Friend agree that in those cases where the demand for school places exceeds the supply, ability to pay ought not to be the hall-mark of entrance, but that intelligence tests ought to be applied in such cases?