Duchess of ATHOLLasked the Under-Secretary of State for the Colonies if he is aware that the grant given by the Government of Kenya to missionary societies in aid of the education of girls is to be reduced; will he state the rate of the present grant and the amount by which it is proposed to be reduced; and, seeing that any reduction of the grant at present given to missionary societies in aid of education for girls is likely to cause a set-back to a service which is only in very early stages and which urgently needs expansion, will he inquire into the matter?
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§ Dr. SHIELSThe sum provided in the Kenya Estimates for 1929 as grants to missions in aid of schools was £25,292. In the Estimates for 1930 this sum has been increased by £5,940 to £31,232. Part of this increase is stated to be due to increments of salaries on authorised scales, and that for the rest the aim has been to subsidise two specially important branches of work, namely, the education of girls and the training of teachers; but my Noble Friend, the Secretary of State for the Colonies, is not in a position to say exactly what part of the grants is being expended upon the education of girls. It may be mentioned that, apart from the foregoing grants, the Vote for the domestic training of African women is also to be increased, namely, from £1,000 in 1929 to £2,000 in 1930. There is no question of the Government of Kenya failing to appreciate the importance of providing for female education, and so fat-as finance permits they may be relied upon to do all that is possible. The Director of Education, dealing with this subject in his Report for 1928, states
The education of women and girls has received a great impetus from Government grants at the Church Missionary Society station at Kabete and is now on a sound footing. The same Mission is developing useful work at Kahuhia. The Church of Scotland is working well in this sphere at Kikuyu and Tumutumu. Special grants from Government have greatly aided the foundation and conduct of a girls' institution at Pumwami in Nairobi, and the erection of new buildings and the provision of staff remuneration at the Women's Industrial Home at Dagoretti.