HC Deb 31 January 1961 vol 633 cc771-2
32. Mr. Swingler

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies what percentage of African children in Northern Rhodesia at present receive secondary education; and for what percentage the Government's current development plan will provide.

Mr. H. Fraser

About 1 per cent. at present and about 2 per cent. in 1963. The present enrolment in African secondary schools is 2,609, of whom 2,200 are boys and about 400 are girls.

Mr. Swingler

Are not those really shocking figures? What can we mean by talking about racial equality in Northern Rhodesia when 99 per cent. of the African children have no chance of secondary education and when, even under the Government's plan, 98 per cent. will still remain without secondary education? Cannot something be done about this matter?

Mr. Fraser

I realise that progress has not been as fast as we would have hoped. However, as the hon. Gentleman knows, it depends upon how one defines secondary education. There are children who will achieve grammar school standards. If one takes the normal system accepted in this country, those who receive more than six years' schooling, one finds that the figure is not two or three thousand but 16,000. Of course, we are going ahead with improvements, but, to take the standard applied by U.N.E.S.C.O., those receiving more than six years' schooling, the total is 16,000. We will do all we can to improve the higher level of secondary education.

Mr. G. M. Thomson

Is the hon. Gentleman aware that a recent United Nations report laid down as an absolute minimum that 4 per cent. of children in an under-developed territory should receive secondary education, yet the Government's aim is only half of that?

Mr. Fraser

I tried to explain that it depends on what one means by "secondary education". Under the U.N.E.S.C.O. definition, it means children who receive more than six years' schooling.

Forward to