HC Deb 28 April 1959 vol 604 c1091
32. Mr. J. Johnson

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies what steps he is taking to ensure that there will be more places for African boys in the Government secondary school in Zanzibar.

Mr. J. Amery

There is no allocation of places by race in this school. The development of secondary education generally was one of the matters considered by the Education Committee whose report is, as I told the House on 23rd April, now being considered in Zanzibar.

Mr. Johnson

Does not the Under-Secretary agree that the African peoples have lagged behind the two older societies of Asia and Europe, and in this case also Indians and Arabs? Will he further agree that the only way to get the Africans up to the standards of the other two older communities is by giving special concessions in secondary education? Will he consider, perhaps, the allocation of 25 per cent. of places for Africans, with the remaining places being open to competition?

Mr. Amery

I will certainly look into what the hon. Gentleman proposes. It is true that the number of Africans coming forward for secondary education in the past has been relatively small. I hope that the balance will be gradually redressed as a result of the expansion which has taken place in recent years in primary education.

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