HC Deb 08 July 1953 vol 517 cc1236-7
36. Mr. Sorensen

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies if the Seychelles Government intend to adopt the proposal made by their official committee to dismiss 70 teachers and increase the size of classes; and what proportion of primary school children in the Seychelles are given facilities for secondary school education.

Mr. Lyttelton

The Legislative Council's Select Committee on the Colony's 1953 Estimates proposed that expenditure on education should be decreased by reducing the number of primary school teachers and increasing the size of classes. This Committee has a majority of unofficial members. Its proposals were adopted by the Legislative Council and are being put into effect. I am asking the Governor for the precise number of teachers who will be affected by these reductions. With regard to the second part of the Question, the latest figures available show about 550 secondary and post primary school pupils and about 4,600 primary school pupils.

Mr. Sorensen

Does the right hon. Gentleman agree that to reduce the number of teachers and increase the size of classes is extraordinarily bad in a Colony of this kind, and cannot he do anything to try to persuade the Legislature responsible to reconsider their very retrogressive decision?

Mr. Lyttelton

I agree that this is most regrettable and a step backwards. It is, of course, due to financial stringency in the Colony, although the provision of education in 1953 is nearly 13½ per cent. of the year's total estimated expenditure, compared with 9.7 per cent. in 1952.

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