Inter-Racial Schools

HC Deb 03 April 1957 vol 568 cc53-4W

61. Mr. Dugdale

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies what progress has been made on the provision of interracial schools in Fiji.

Mr. Profumo

The number of multiracial schools in Fiji is steadily increasing. Of some 500 primary schools, 106 now cater for children of more than one race and 21 of the 27 secondary schools are multi-racial. In addition, a multi-racial post-school certificate course has been opened this year in Suva.

This process is, however, limited by the fact that certain areas of the Colony are inhabited only by people of one race and by the natural tendency at the primary school stage towards separate schools for separate language groups. Progress depends on making English the medium of instruction at the lower primary level and this, in turn, depends on the supply of suitable teachers.