§ 40. Mr. J. Johnsonasked the Secretary of State for the Colonies the numbers of African children of school age in Northern Rhodesia and Nyasaland, respectively; the numbers attending school; and the numbers who have completed the secondary stage in both of these territories.
§ Mr. Lennox-BoydI will ask the Governors concerned for this information and communicate with the hon. Member as soon as their replies are received.
§ Mr. JohnsonIs the Minister aware that when he does get these figures they will be disappointing?
§ Mr. Lennox-BoydI think that is a pretty gloomy thought. I do not think we are doing too badly. After all, we have the 1950 figures, and out of an estimated 468,000 children of school age in Nyasaland, 219,000 were at school; and in Northern Rhodesia out of 380,000 there were 165,000 at school. Considering the great difficulties in these territories, I think that is a pretty good start.
§ Mr. AlportDoes my right hon. Friend realise that one of the reasons why these figures may appear to be disappointing. is the fact that teachers in Northern Rhodesia and Nyasaland find it more remunerative to get employment in Southern Rhodesia, and will he consider the conditions under which African education is undertaken in Southern Rhodesia with a view to finding out whether the two Protectorate territories can learn anything from the practice in Southern Rhodesia?
§ Mr. Lennox-BoydThere may well be something in what my hon. Friend says, 1508 and that makes it more than ever necessary to consider in a favourable light the problems of federation in Central Africa.
§ Mr. JohnsonIs the Minister aware that I asked this question last year. Is he further aware that in a wealthy firm in Rhodesia, exporting £20 million worth of base metals, there were only 17 African youngsters who had finished their secondary school course?
§ Mr. Lennox-BoydThe policy of the previous Government and of the Colonial Office for some time has been to concentrate on primary education first, and that is the reason why there has been a comparatively small intake into secondary schools. "First things first" is the policy of the present Administration.
§ Mr. J. GriffithsWhen the Minister was replying to the supplementary question put by the hon. Member for Colchester (Mr. Alport) he said that the education problem was a further reason for federation. Does he realise that the education of Africans will not be transferred to the proposed federal government, and that any such suggestion would lead to very strong opposition?
§ Mr. Lennox-BoydI did not say that it was a further reason for federation. I said it was a further reason for considering in a friendly light the problems raised by federation. Undoubtedly the difficulties and problems met by teachers in Southern Rhodesia may have some contribution to make to the problems in Northern Rhodesia, but there is no doubt also, as the right hon. Gentleman said, that the education of Africans would fall under a different heading.