HC Deb 13 May 1953 vol 515 cc1246-7
42. Mr. J. Johnson

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies whether he will make a statement upon the progress that has been made in primary, middle and secondary school education in the Gold Coast; and what has been done to provide teachers and buildings for the increased number of children in the schools.

Mr. Hopkinson

As the reply is inevitably long and contains many figures, I will, with permission, circulate it in the OFFICIAL REPORT.

Mr. Johnson

Is not the Minister aware that the school population is almost doubled and that the number of teachers in training is similarly also doubled? Would he agree that this remarkable advance is mainly due to the fact that colonial peoples are now taking a large share in their own affairs? Would the right hon. Gentleman further agree that this is a lesson which can be learned by other parts of the Colonial Empire in Africa?

Mr. Hopkinson

I would certainly say that the advance has been extremely satisfactory, and that the facts given by the hon. Gentleman are perfectly correct. It was one of the first major policy decisions of the Gold Coast Government to extend their education programme, and we are certainly satisfied that they have done so, and hope that other people will copy their example.

Following is the reply:

In January, 1952, the Gold Coast Government introduced an accelerated development plan for education, a principal feature of which was the abolition of fees for primary education. Good progress has been made in implementing this plan.

2. The intake of primary school-children in 1952, at 120, 000, was more than double the 1951 intake. Few, if any, children of primary age failed to find places in January, 1953. Two hundred and forty-five new classrooms have already been completed in the towns, and many villages have put up their own buildings.

3. Local communities have also built and opened 24 new assisted middle schools; 7 new assisted secondary school have been opened, and 10 secondary schools formerly non-assisted now receive Government aid.

4. Eight of the 14 new teacher training colleges contemplated in the plan have been opened, and the intake of 4 existing colleges doubled. The number of teachers in training, 3, 150, is almost double the number in 1951 and this year's output of trained teachers should exceed 1, 000. Special arrangements for training pupil teachers have been made and selected pupil teachers are undergoing short intensive courses at the first of 4 emergency teacher training colleges.