HC Deb 23 June 1954 vol 529 cc409-10
5. Mr. J. Johnson

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies the cost of a student at Makerere College, Uganda; and how many of these students are private and how many on Government scholarships from Kenya, Tanganyika, Uganda and Nyasaland, respectively.

Mr. Lyttelton

The estimated gross costs per student vary for each faculty; for 1954 these are estimated at between £494 and £1,938.

I have no precise details of students holding Government scholarships, but I understand that at least 90 per cent. of the students receive grants either from their Governments or from district councils. The total numbers of students from the territories mentioned are: Kenya, 168; Tanganyika, 112; Uganda, 149; Nyasaland 2.

Mr. Johnson

Can the right hon. Gentleman tell us what hope he has of cutting down what seems to be a very high cost per student? Is he aware that it is cheaper for an African student to come to Oxford and pay his fees and stay almost the whole year? Is he aware that it will be difficult for Makerere College to obtain these students under these conditions?

Mr. Lyttelton

It seems largely a matter of numbers. If the number of students in the faculties was increased that would bring down the per capita cost.