§ 14. Mr. Fisherasked the Secretary of State for the Colonies what is the current annual number of university graduates from Nyasaland and Northern Rhodesia, respectively, who take up employment in their Territories after the completion of their university courses.
§ Mr. Iain MacleodIn Northern Rhodesia, four African graduates took 188 up employment in 1958 and six in 1959. There are at present 39 Africans taking university degree courses.
In Nyasaland, annual figures are not available, but out of a total of 34 African graduates, 30 have taken up employment in the Territory. There are 40 Nyasalanders at present taking degree or professional courses.
I regret that comparable figures for non-African graduates are not immediately available.
§ Mr. FisherDoes my right hon. Friend agree that these numbers are somewhat inadequate in view of the need which exists for qualified Africans in politics, the public service and the professions in these two Territories? Has he any proposals for setting up secondary education, which must be the basis upon which a university education can follow?
§ Mr. MacleodThese figures are small, although they are increasing. We try to provide help through such means as C.D. & W. grants. I am convinced that the two most important matters in all of these problems is African agriculture, on the one hand, and African education, on the other hand.
§ Mr. G. M. ThomsonIs the right hon. Gentleman aware that these figures for university graduates from two countries, each of them about the size of Scotland, underline the desperate urgency of getting more university graduates quickly? Will he promise that he will earnestly tackle this problem, otherwise his plans for the future of these Territories will meet great difficulties?
§ Mr. MacleodIt is not just a question of getting university graduates. We cannot simply create people at that stage. We must have a sound secondary education on which to draw.