HC Deb 31 October 1956 vol 558 cc1415-6
34. Mrs. Butler

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies what percentage of school children in each of the regions of Nigeria attend school ; and what is the expenditure in each region for educational purposes.

Mr. Maclay

The figures are not readily available ; and, with the hon. Lady's permission, I will write to her later.

Mrs. Butler

Am I right in thinking that in the whole of Nigeria less than one in four children are receiving any form of education and that in the Northern Province less than one in 27? If this is so, do the figures not reveal that the educational provision there is completely inadequate to prepare for the self-government and the constitutional changes which are imminent there?

Mr. Maclay

I feel it would be a great mistake for me to make any comment or for the hon. Lady to draw too clear conclusions until accurate figures are available.