§ 28. Mr. E. L. Mallalieuasked the Under-Secretary of State for Commonwealth Relations what is the average size of classes in the primary schools in the Bechuanaland Protectorate.
§ The Under-Secretary of State for Commonwealth Relations (Mr. C. J. M. Alport)The average number of pupils in classes in primary schools in the Bechuanaland Protectorate is thirty-six.
§ Mr. Mallalieuis there any hope of any improvement in the very near future?
§ Mr. AlportWe are making some improvement and the expenditure on education in the Protectorate has increased substantially during the last four years. We hope in that way to be able to improve the facilities available for primary teaching in Bechuanaland.
§ Mr. MallalieuIs there not a very considerable backlog in education progress to make good in the Protectorate? Are the Government aware of the vital need, in view of the conditions in South Africa generally, to do something substantial in the Protectorate?
§ Mr. AlportWe are doing something substantial to improve facilities and, as I have said, the amount of money made available during the last four years has increased considerably and we propose to continue with that development.