HC Deb 29 June 1955 vol 543 cc400-1
50. Mr. J. Johnson

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies what steps he is taking to develop advanced work in Nyasaland secondary schools in view of the fact that at present African students are forced to leave the Protectorate to take their Higher School Certificate course in Southern Rhodesia.

Mr. Lennox-Boyd

The Nyasaland Government intend to extend the secondary school at Dedza over the next three years so that the school may cater for a total of about 290 pupils, including a sixth form of about 50 pupils taking a two-year course leading to higher school certificate or advanced level general certificate of education. Assistance from colonial development and welfare funds towards the cost of the extensions has already been approved in principle.

Mr. Johnson

Will the Minister approve this as quickly as possible? He may know as well as I do that at the moment the Nyasalanders feel keenly that what is good enough for Northern Rhodesia and Southern Rhodesia should be good enough for them, and the quicker they get their sixth forms and higher education the better.

Mr. Lennox-Boyd

As I think the hon. Gentleman will be aware, I am anxious to establish and maintain in the minds of the people of Nyasaland recognition of their equal importance as full partners in the Federation. It is not only planned to increase the enrollment at Dedza, but to build a new secondary school, accommodating 120 pupils, in the Northern Province; and we are about to give approval in principle to the spending of colonial development and welfare money on this sensible project.