FIJI EDUCATION SYSTEM

Hokitika Guardian, 19 August 1926, Page 4

FIJI EDUCATION SYSTEM

COMMISSION OF ENQUIRY. AUCKLAND, Aug. 10. For tho purpose of suggesting an education system for Fiji, taking in the necessities of the European, Fijian, and Indian children, a Commission of Enquiry finished over a month’s investigation pt Suva on Friday last. A ' member of tho Commission was Air Frank Tate, C.AI.G., Director of Education in A'ictoria, who is a through passenger on the Niagara, to Sydney. “Everyone was prepared to admit that ilie present education system of the colony is not satisfactory,” said Mr Tate. “The education of the white children is fairly well provided for, and under an agreement between the New Zealand Education Department and tho Fiji Government a good supply of teachers is obtained. During thi' past, eighty years two large church missions, the Alethodist and the Roman Catholic, have steadily dovelcpode a system of education for the Fijians, and it may now be said that tlie Fijians are a literate population. T think tliis is rather a wonderful achievement. But although they arc moderately well supplied with schools there lias been up to tho present no satisfactory system for tho training of teachers, and many of the Native teachers are poorly educated in the practice of teaching.”

Continuing, Afr Tate said another great problem confronting Fiji educationally was tho population of 60,00!) Indians, of whom from 10,000 to 12,000 were children. Very little provision had been made by the Government for tho education of these children. Tlie opportunities fur their education were provided by the missions and tlie Indian community, and the schools were not very efficient. “Realising tho necessity for investigation flic Government called a Commission and invited me to take part and guide the education part of it,” continued Air Tate. “Afr F. IT. Bakewell was present as the New Zealand representative. The Commission was a large one. consisting of four leading official’s of tho colony, two representative Fijians, and two Indians. The chief medical officer was chairman, and I was chosen as deputy chairman. The Commission was divided into two sections, education and finance. The Commission sat continuously from July Dtli to August 13tli. AVe visited the outlying islands of the group and investigated the- problems. Thoroughly comprehensive reports have been prepared and handed to the Governor, who will forward them to England.” Afr Tate added that the problems set before the Commission were- very difficult, hut it was hoped they had been solved. For instance, the Indian population was divided into many different sects who spoke different languages.