§ 37. Mr. Skeffingtonasked the Secretary of State for the Colonies in which Colonies African students leaving to take a university course are required to leave a deposit of £100 with their Government before they are allowed to proceed.
§ Mr. HopkinsonPrivate students from Nigeria are required, under an arrangement with the Association of Principals of Technical Institutions in the United Kingdom, to deposit the fees for the session with the local authorities as a prior condition to the student's acceptance by a college. The amount varies from college to college but would not normally exceed £100.
§ Mr. SkeffingtonWould the Minister consider taking this matter up with the authorities concerned? Is he not aware that it is already extremely difficult for an African student to get this form of higher education and that this additional charge of £100 is a very serious financial obstacle?
§ Mr. HopkinsonThe arrangement was made as a result of embarrassment caused by certain Nigerian students in seeking and obtaining places and then 1130 failing to take them up on enrolment in the United Kingdom or taking up some different course of study. The deposit is released on enrolment to meet the fees for the first session.