§ 2. Captain Ryderasked the Secretary of State for the Colonies what progress is being made towards increasing the educational facilities in the Falkland Islands.
§ Mr. LytteltonAs the answer is long, I will, with my hon. and gallant Friend's permission, circulate it in the OFFICIAL REPORT.
Following is the reply:Considerable progress has been made in raising the standard of education in the Government central school at Port Stanley, where a new infant school is being built, by means of a grant under the Colonial Development and Welfare Act. The plans for this school are based on London County Council building requirements and the school is expected to be completed in 1953.The outlying country districts present more difficult problems and progress has therefore been much slower. Small settlement schools are at present maintained by the Government on both East and West Falkland, and in addition a grant has been made under the Colonial Development and Welfare Act to provide six teachers and one teacher-trainer from the United Kingdom in order to improve the standard of education in the outlying districts.Boarding schools are projected for the East and West Falklands; the school on East Falkland is to be built at Darwin by the Falkland Islands Company, and Messrs. Holmstead, Blake and Company have signified their intention to participate in the capital cost of a school on West Falkland. These schools will be equipped, staffed and maintained by the Colonial Government.Last year an arrangement was concluded whereby the Dorset County Education Authority will second teachers to the Colony, and will reserve places in its boarding schools for scholarship children from the Falkland Islands.Attendance at evening classes during the winter is compulsory for all Government employees under the age of 18