§ 16. Mr. G. M. Thomsonasked the Secretary of State for the Colonies when the Aden Girls' College is to be reopened; and what new arrangements are proposed to avoid a recurrence of recent difficulties.
§ 19. Mr. R. Edwardsasked the Secretary of State for the Colonies whether the girls' college at Aden will be reopened for the new session this year; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. SandysThe Aden Government announced earlier this month that the girls' college will be reopened in October. It is proposed to make some amendments to the curriculum, and to establish a parents' committee. There will also be certain staff changes.
§ Mr. ThomsonWhile welcoming the Minister's reply, may I ask whether he can give the House more information about whether the principalship of the college has now been decided? Is he aware that if the college is to open properly in October and to try to overcome the quite disastrous gap which has been created in the education of these girls, the principalship should be decided now to allow a really new start to take place?
§ Mr. SandysI fully recognise the importance of this matter, but I am sure the hon. Member will realise that in the 24 hours I have been in my new office I have not had much time to study the problems of the girls' college in Aden.
§ Mr. EdwardsMay I say that I am particularly pleased to hear that a parents' association has been established covering the students of this school, because many of the parents have forced the girls into early marriage because of the closure of the school? I hope that this will contribute towards ending this injustice against the young girls.
§ Mr. SandysEarly marriage is not always a bad thing.