§ Mr. J. Johnsonasked the Under-Secretary of State for Commonwealth Relations what facilities exist in the Bechuanaland Protectorate for technical education and agricultural education, respectively; and what further developments are planned in these fields.
§ Mr. AlportTechnical training for Bechuanaland Protectorate students is provided at the Lerotholi Technical School in Basutoland. Plans are in hand to build a Trades School in the Bechuanaland Protectorate. There is a Veterinary Training School. There is no agricultural school, as the economy of the Protectorate is pastoral, rather than agricultural, but agricultural demonstrators give lectures and supervise practical work in ordinary schools.
§ Mr. J. Johnsonasked the Under-Secretary of State for Commonwealth Relations in what areas regional advisory councils are functioning in the Bechuanaland Protectorate; what are their powers and duties; and what effort is being made to link these upon a Protectorate basis.
§ Mr. AlportIn the Bamangwato and Bangwaketse Reserves Tribal and Area Councils have been constituted and inaugural meetings will be held shortly. In the Bakwena Reserve a Tribal Council is to be established soon. In the Batawana Reserve Area Councils are functioning and the formation of a Tribal Council is shortly to be discussed by the people in kgotla. In the Tati District Area Councils have been established and the constitution of a central council is under consideration.
The duties of these Advisory Councils are described in the reply by the then Parliamentary Under-Secretary to Questions on 1st November, 1956, by the hon. Members for Wavertree (Mr. Tilney) and Bristol, South-East (Mr. Benn).
It is hoped to arrange that, where a Chief and Tribe agree, some of the African Advisory Council members from that Tribe should be elected by the Tribal Council.
77W
§ Mr. J. Johnsonasked the Under-Secretary of State for Commonwealth Relations what are the numbers of students taking the General Certificate of Education examination at Moeng College, Bechuanaland Protectorate; and what would be the additional annual recurrent expense and the number of teachers required to institute a two years additional course at the college.
§ Mr. AlportNo students at Moeng College take the General Certificate of Education examination. In the final year of the secondary course students at Moeng College sit for the University of South Africa Matriculation examinations. If successful in these they are eligible for admission to two-year courses in schools in Southern Rhodesia which prepare students for entry to the University College of Rhodesia and Nyasaland.
It is estimated that to institute a similar two-year additional course at Moeng College would require two extra teachers, an additional classroom and staff quarters. The initial cost is estimated at £6,500, and the recurrent annual cost at £1,500.