THE SYSTEM OF EDUCATION IN THE ISLAND OF

ST. HELENA.

The island of St. Helena was discovered by a Portuguese Commander, Introduction on St. Helena's day (May 21st), 1502. The Portuguese made no permanent settlement on the island, which passed in 1651 into the possession of the East India Company. It remained in their possession till it was converted into a Crown Colony in 1834.

The system of education in the Island of St. Helena is mainly Ordinance founded upon an Ordinance by the Governor (H. R. Janish, Esq.) of 1874. enacted in the year 1874. Under this Ordinance provision is made for bringing the benefits of education within the reach of the poorer inhabitants of the Island, through the agency of several administrations.

At the present time schools are provided and maintained by Government, by the Benevolent Society, and by the Hussey Charity. The Government supports four schools, the Benevolent Society two, and the Hussey Charity three.

Under the Ordinance of 1874 it is enacted that "It shall be the duty of every parent to provide elementary education in reading, writing and arithmetic for his children; and for that purpose the parent of every child, not being less than nine or more than twelve years of age, residing within the Island of St. Helena, shall cause such child to attend school, unless there shall be a reasonable cause for non-attendance."

This Ordinance has since been modified by a series of Rules put Rules forth by the Governor, W. Grey-Wilson, Esq., on the 1st of April, 1st April, 1887. By these rules children between the ages of three and

1887.

fifteen years may be entered on the school books. Religious instruc- Religious

tion is not compulsory for those who avail themselves of the "con- Instruction. science clause." Provision is made in the Ordinance for the general management of the schools.

Three of the Government Schools are situated in Jamestown, Present and one in the country, near Plantation. These are entirely sup- Schools. ported by the Government, but small fees are charged, which, however, in the case of poverty can be remitted. The Benevolent Society supports one school in Jamestown, and one at the southern end of the Island at Sandy Bay. For these two schools the Colonial Government makes an annual Grant-in-Aid to the extent of £30. The Rebecca Hussey Charity provides and entirely maintains three schools, one in Jamestown, one at Half-tree-hollow (a district midway in the Island from north to south), and the third at Longwood on the eastern side. The Hussey Charity's provision is for the education of natives-those who are born on the Island, of any

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nationality other than European, but European children are not prohibited from attendance when there is sufficient room for them on the roll. The Charity provides for a religious education on the basis of the faith of the English Church;

It will thus be seen that there are nine schools in the Island, situated in convenient places of access for the children.

Subjects of The subjects taught in the Government schools, and also in Instruction. those of the two Charities mentioned, are so taught on a graduated scale, and regulated as far as possible by the Government "Standards." In only one school, viz., the Government Girls' School, is the highest standard (the Sixth) attained. The scheme set out in the year 1887, and in force now, though somewhat added to in later years, is as follows:—

Attendance

tion.

The following subjects shall be taught :-Reading, writing, dictation, geography, English history.

To girls, plain needlework.

To boys (in the country), gardening.

Standards of Examination :

Standard I.-Reading, narrative in monosyllables; writing on slate, figures and monosyllables; arithmetic, simple addition and multiplication table.

Standard II.-Reading, narrative from an elementary book; writing, dictation. from the same book; arithmetic, examples from the simple rules.

Standard III.-Reading, fluently and correctly; writing, dictation; arithmetic, to compound rules; geography; English history.

In addition, Holy Scripture.

The poorer population of the Island consists mainly of coloured anl Inspec. people, who are scarcely, as yet, sufficiently appreciative of the benefits of education, and therefore there is a somewhat serious irregularity of attendance. This difficulty, however, is being gradually overcome, and some fairly good results are shown at the inspections. There are two Inspectors of Schools, who visit and examine the children from time to time.

Teachers.

Under the Ordinance of 1874 provision is made for the appointment of a school Attendance Officer, but in the country districts the people are so widely scattered among the mountains that it is very difficult to secure regular attendance. After the age of ten years children are exempt from school attendance on passing a simple examination provided for in the Ordinance.

The teachers are necessarily untrained, as they are drawn from the inhabitants. But His Excellency the Governor is desirous, should a suitable vacancy occur, of procuring a trained teacher from England, part of whose duty it shall be to instruct the teachers

who need help in the art and science of teaching. This would be of the greatest use, and would gradually insure a better system of instruction which could not fail to produce good results.

There is no provision in the Island for any Secondary or Higher Education. The paucity of children requiring such education, and the scattered character of the population, renders any organised provision of this kind impossible. This is a great drawback, but it is unavoidable, and education of a more advanced order must be left to private enterprise and arrangement.

Garrison

A school is provided by the Military Authorities for the children School. of the garrison

April, 1902.

ALFRED PORTER,
Inspector of Government Schools.

Note. The following extract is taken from the Governor's report for 1903. (Colonial Reports--Annual. No. 420. St. Helena. Report for 1903.)

An Ordinance was enacted early in the year "to secure to children in the Island the benefits of Elementary Education." This Ordinance repealed the old Education Ordinance of 1874, which was not in keeping with ordinary requirements. The new Ordinance made attendance at school compulsory, but owing to the want of funds it was not found practicable during the year to appoint the necessary "attendance officers," who would see that the terms of the Ordinance were rigidly enforced. The Ordinance referred to was eventually repealed by an improved Ordinance, which, however, did not come into force until January 1st, 1904. I look for a great improvement in the Education Department generally, when this new Ordinance becomes law. The standard of excellence must be a low one unless compulsory attendance is enforced.