BELGIUM.

Main Features. TABULAR STATEMENT RELATING TO SCHOLARSHIPS.

E.—l2

Inspection.

Merits.

Demerits.

The supervision of primary schools is confided to the communal authorities, and to the Government Inspectors. 3 Each province has one or two Inspectors appointable and dismissable by the King ; 3 and such Inspector must visit the schools in his province at least once in two years. 4 Under the Government, Inspectors ai*e cantonal Inspectors, who are nominated by the Government; and they must visit the schools in their several cantons at least once a year. 0 But inspection does not extend to religious and moral instruction, 6 and is regulated by Government. Once, at least, every three months the cantonal Inspector calls together the teachers of his district, and a report on the condition of primary instruction in the district is then addressed to the principal Inspector. Each principal Inspector presides annually at a conference of teachers, and sends in an annual report to the Minister/' All salaries are paid by the State. For secondary schools Inspectors-general and Inspectors 7 are appointed by the Government. There are annual examinations in all schools, 8 regulated by the Government. The school buildings are excellent, 9 and the arrangements for the teaching and comfort of the pupils good. OVER-PRESSURE. I could not hear of over-pressure in Belgium, but one must remember the absence of any compulsory-attendance law. The programmes, however, seemed to contain too many subjects and too much work for proper digestion, 10 but those are incidents not peculiar to Belgium. 11 SUMMARY. There appears to be a good deal worthy of commendation in the Belgian system, for instance— («) The arrangements for communal school government; (p) The absence of pupil-teaching and the provisions for training teachers, including infant-school teachers ; (c) The attention paid to physical training ; 13 and («?) The especial promotion of industrial and art training. But there arc at least three overshadowing defects, namely— (a) Want of consideration for all in the matter of religious teaching ; (b) Absence of any compulsory-attendance law, 13 and (c) Want of protection for children against injurious employment. 1*

Examinations. School buildings, &c.

Over-pressure.

1 See also E.C., vol. 1, p. 25. 2 See loi 26 sept., 1884, art. 10. 3 See loi, 1884, art. 12. 4 See loi, 1884, art. 10. 6 Art. 10 as above. "In Holland they say 'As is your inspector, so is your school.' " —Dr. Philbrick, p. 14, and see also p. 56. 0 See loi, 1884, art. 10. 7 See " Eeglement d'administration concernant les concours," 1884. 8 Note " Eeglement d'administration concernant les concours," 0.P., 1884. lJ See paper on " The construction of Primary Schools," by M. Buls, 1.E.C., vol. 13, pp. 207-213.

10 Note also remarks of M. Suls, 1.E.C., vol. 13, p. 182. 11 Prof. Seeley is of opinion that in the English schools there aro too many subjects taught at once, " N.G.," Dec, 1885, art. on "Insular Ignorance," p. 872. Also see p. 51 supra, and Inspector Stewart's evidence, E.E.C., 2367 and 3357 ; remarks on programmes by Dr. Philbrick.—Dr. Philbrick, pp. 56, 59, and seq. ; paper on " Intermediate Education in Ireland," by Dr. Molloy, Trans. Nat. So=. Sc. Assoo., Dublin, 1881, p. 371; and opinions of Eev. Prof. Mahaffy, p. 406, Eev. Prof. Healey, p. 411, and Mr. Chas. Dawson, M.P. " Non multa sed multum." 12 See also 1.E.C., vol. 13, p. 161. 1:1 M. Couvreur in 1.E.C., vol. 13, pp. 323, 324. 14 Note R.C., vol. 1, pp. 25, 354, 355, 359, 360.

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Classes. Conditions of Grant. Amounts. Term. There arc both State and municipal scholarships, and also several private bequest ones. Only granted where student is deserving and needy, as a means towards pursuing higher studies. Those for (a) primary school scholars rango from lOOfr. to 200fr. : those for (6) Royal Athenoeum scholars from 200fr. to 400fr., according to necessities of pupil. (a) In primary schools tenahle for three or four years, provided satisfactory examinations be passed each year j 1 (i) in Royal Athenoeum, tenable for six years. Ni ite.—Scholarships have all so been established in connection with normal schools.