HC Deb 26 February 1959 vol 600 cc1284-5
32. Mr. J. Johnson

asked the Under-Secretary of State for Commonwealth Relations how many students from Basutoland, Bechuanaland and Swaziland are being educated at this time at Roma College, University College at Salisbury, and Makerere University College, Uganda; and what are his plans for in-increasing these numbers.

Mr. Alport

At Roma College there are 22 students from Basutoland, seven from Bechuanaland and six from Swaziland. One student from Basutoland is at the University College, Salisbury, but in addition there are two Basutoland and three Swazi at Goromonzi High School, near Salisbury, preparing for entrance to the University College there. There are no students from the High Commission Territories at Makerere College, Uganda.

The number of students at universities is, of course, related to the number qualifying annually by matriculation or Higher School Certificate. In Basutoland a high percentage of those qualifying go to university and receive government assistance. Thirteen students at Roma, two at Goromonzi and one at Salisbury receive government bursaries. In Bechuanaland, as I informed the hon. Member for Stirling and Falkirk Burghs (Mr. Malcolm MacPherson) on 12th February, an increase is contemplated in the number of secondary schools. In Swaziland plans are in preparation to double the capacity of three African high schools and to make available increased funds for scholarships.

Mr. Johnson

Does the Minister not think that the numbers are far too few? In view of the fact that Dr. Verwoerd, the Premier in South Africa, is constantly jibing at us because we do not do as much for our High Commission Territory Africans as he does in the Union, surely in this battle for competitive coexistence we should do something more for them?

Mr. Alport

The hon. Gentleman will no doubt recall that there has been a very substantial improvement in Basuto education in recent years due to the admirable efforts of missionary societies operating in that country. It was my firm impression when I visited the Protectorates that what was needed most was an improvement in secondary education to ensure an increasing number from those territories capable of qualifying for education at university level.