EDUCATION IN SOUTH AFRICA

Dominion, Volume 9, Issue 2679, 27 January 1916, Page 2

EDUCATION IN SOUTH AFRICA

NEW ZEALANDER'S EXPERIENCES It is a far cry to Soutli Africa from New Zealand, but- there are perhaps no other two colonies of the far-flung British domains which have more in common than these two countries. Mr. A. Matheson, who has returned from Johannesburg, gave a "Mahawatu Times" reporter some interesting facts concerning educational and other' matters in South Africa, which will bs interesting tor most'people. The racial problem has given the educational authorities some trouble, but they seem to have mastered it by the system which they have employed. In the Transvaal 90 per cent, of the children are Dutch. The system adopted is to teach all the lower classes through the (medium of the Dutch language, giving only one lesson in English. As the pupil rises to higher standards he is given extra -English till he reaches Standard s, when he is given the opportunity to decide for himself in which language he wi)l_ continue his studies. Most of the children in Johannesburg, English or Dutch, choose to be taught through {the medium of English. It is' compulsory for children to go to school at seven years of age, though they may start at six. Children must pass the 6th Standard before leaving school in the country districts, and the 6th Standard in towns. Secondary .educational facilities Sfre offered the children in high sohools and domestic science schools. The high schools take the pupils to the matriculation standard, when they can go to the Cape Univers'ity or to any of the university colleges, of which there are a number in South Africa. Tho teachers are well treated as to salary as compared with New Zealand, but living is higher and opportunities of promotion fewer. Teachers from outside are not encouraged. A workable ponsions scheme is now before the Provincial Council, and will probably become law in the near future. The Act of Tlnion, 1910, placed education under the control of Provincial Councils for not less than five years, and the ,sj stem has not been changed.