§ 7. Mr. Abseasked the Secretary of State for the Colonies whether he is aware of concern in the Seychelles that French should be substituted for English as the medium of teaching in primary schools; and whether, in order to ensure that job opportunities for emigrant Seychellois should not be restricted, a direction will be made resisting changes which would limit the use of English as a medium of instruction in Seychelles schools.
§ Mr. StonehouseIt is the policy of the Seychelles Government to use English as the medium of instruction from the earliest possible age. In practice however teachers often have to use Creole in explanation during the earlier years of schooling.
The only use of French is for religious instruction and I am not aware of any general wish that it should replace English as the medium for the rest of the curriculum.
§ Mr. AbseWould my hon. Friend note that it would be very dangerous to allow any pressure group to have its way about the use of French for instruction, since it unfortunately deteriorates into Creole, which means that the inhabitants can never leave knowing any language known to the outside world?
§ Mr. StonehouseI am not aware of any general demand for the use of French.