In addition, the State provides free nursery education in the three main centres of population. Children attend nursery school for three mornings a week from three and a half to five years of age. Attendance in nursery school as of September 1980 was:
Boys Girls
22333
Total
65
Although all children do not attend nursery school, the smaller numbers to those of a yearly average shown in section F reflects the decline in the birth rate. Appendix A gives figures for births 1963 to 1980 (i.e. the present school population plus births to December 1980).* Differences between these figures and those in section F are the result of emigration/immigration and the movement of families to and from Ascension Island, one of the dependencies.
H.
Establishment of an adequate fellowship system
Great Britain provides courses in the United Kingdom for further training in various fields. Personnel from the various government departments attend courses in the United Kingdom ranging from four-year B. Ed. courses in education to three month attachments by different ranks in the police force.
I.
Improvement of the material conditions of teaching staff
The terms of service for the teaching staff are the same as those in other sectors of the Government service. The Education Department endeavours to maintain
a teaching establishment to allow a ratio of one teacher to every twenty pupils. In the nursery classes, the Education Department tries to maintain a ratio of one teacher to ten pupils. In work with pre-school handicapped children, the ratio is often on a one to one basis.
Teachers form panels to develop the curriculum in both primary and secondary education. There is a Teachers' Association and the elected Chairman is a member of the Education Committee. The executive members of the Teachers' Association are also involved in deployment of teachers to the various schools.
J.
Right to choice of school
All children attending State schools have a right to attend any of the schools, except the selective secondary school. In practice, the majority of parents send their children to the neighbourhood school (see section B regarding religious consideration). English is the only language spoken on the island.
*
See the annex to the present report.
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