§ Mr. Bryant Godman Irvineasked the Secretary of State for Commonwealth Affairs what progress has been made in education by the British administration in the New Hebrides.
§ Mr. Whitlockpursuant to his reply, OFFICIAL REPORT, 21st May, Vol. 765, c. 281, supplied the following information:
British education in the New Hebrides has traditionally been provided by voluntary agencies (largely by the Presbyterian Mission) but in recent years the British Administration has played an increasing part. Under a plan for the de-
PROGRESS IN EDUCATION—YEARS 1963 AND 1967 1. School Enrolments by Educational Levels: Junior Primary 1963 1967 Male Female Total Male Female Total British Administration Schools — — — 229 94 323 Voluntary Agency (Aided) Schools 2,517 1,894 4,411 3,828 3,315 7,143 Senior Primary 1963 1967 Male Female Total Male Female Total British Administration Schools — — — 20 10 30 Voluntary Agency (Aided) Schools 283 216 499 1,303 700 2,003 Secondary and Post Primary 1963 1967 Male Female Total Male Female Total British Administration Schools — — — 40 15 55 Voluntary Agency (Aided) Schools — — — 126 27 153 2. Qualified Teachers: As at 1963 As at 1967 Male Female Total Male Female Total Cumulative output from the British Administration Teachers' College's 2-year course — — — 147 18 163 128W
3. Expenditure on Education($A): Primary Secondary Recurrent Teacher Training Other Education Administration Non-Recurrent Total 1963 14,350 — 26,203 2,740 13,114 43,640 100,047 1967 41,073 60,658 57,181 2,904 71,251 191,222 424,289 velopment of British education adopted by the British Administration in 1963 expenditure has increased from £46,686 in 1963 to £197,988 in 1967, and the number of pupils in primary schools (mainly aided voluntary agency schools) has risen from 4,910 to 9,499. The British Administration has itself started seven Government primary schools in selected areas in order to improve coverage and standards.
In 1962 a teacher training college was started; about 30 primary school teachers have graduated from it each year since the end of 1963 and this has considerably improved the standards of primary education.
A co-educational secondary boarding school was opened in 1966 with an entry of 30 students which will build up to 150 students in 1970. This provides a five year course up to school certificate level.
Over 30 New Hebrideans are at present abroad on courses of tertiary, secondary and technical education not available in the Condominium.
Tables below give details of the increase in school enrolments, the output of the qualified teachers and expenditure between 1963 and 1967. Further information is contained in the British Administration's Annual Report on Education for 1967, of which a copy has been placed in the Library.