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سيليسيا

PUBLIC RECORD OFFICE

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last. One hundred marks were assigned to this subject; and, when it is taken into consideration that this was the first time the subject has been taken, the marks obtained by the candidates show a very fair book-knowledge of it. The Board of Education considered the matter at a meeting held on the 13th March, 1907, and it was agreed that, while Mrs. Deacon's lectures should be retained as the text-book in use in the elementary schools, a new and more advanced text-book should be selected for the examination of teachers for certificates, and Dr. Prout's "Elemen- tary lessons on Hygiene and Sanitation, with special reference to the tropics," was chosen. Questions based on this book will, therefore, be set at the examination of teachers in Decemcer, 1908. The Board also agreed to the insertion of hygiene among the "obligatory subjects" for which grants are given to the primary schools. The Acting Principal Medical Officer is of opinion that no certificates of having passed Standard VII. should be given to any pupil who has not shown a fair profi- ciency in this subject. The actual value of the training thus given, as shown in its practical influence on the homes and habits of the natives, will be somewhat difficult to appraise. A long and careful inspection of the schools where the training is given, and of the towns and villages where the schools are situated, as well as study of the domestic habits of the scholars and teachers, will first be necessary. At present it is the opinion of the Acting Principal Medical Officer that the uneducated native is more cleanly than his educated brother, especially Fantis, living in the more artificial conditions of the coast towns. In this connection, it is not without interest to observe, in the table of marks obtained by candidates for teacher's certifi- cates in the late examination, that the lowest marks were almost invariably gained by teachers or students from Cape Coast. There are many pupils in the schools whose surroundings militate strongly against progress in sanitation, especially in cases where one member of a large family has been sent to school by his parents; and it would be most interesting to observe whether any practical advance in sanitary habits can be effected by such a scholar among his relatives. As far as the Medical Department is concerned, instructions were issued to medical officers to teach elementary hygiene to the subordinates, and for some time past instruction has been given in elementary hygiene to dispensers. During the year 1906, six dispensers and one dresser acted as Inspectors of Nuisances, definitely appointed, and they received useful experience in practical sanitation. About six dressers in Ashanti and the Northern Territories also had practical experience. The teaching of elementary hygiene has been made compulsory for dispensers and dressers, and, wherever possible, practical work will be given.

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Eastern Province (Calabar).

More and more attention has been given each year to the teaching of hygiene in both Mission and Government schools. All the children are now instructed in this subject from the first Standard upwards. The text-book used has been Dr. Collet's "Elements of Physiology and Public Health." In some schools, notably the Hope Waddel and Bonny Government Schools, a very complete knowledge of the subject has been attained.

Central Province (Warri).

Some Elementary Sanitation was taught in the schools as an obligatory subject under the head of General Knowledge.

NORTHERN NIGERIA.

At the end of 1905 Sir F. Lugard instituted a series of simple lectures on health to the clerks and any other Africans who expressed a willingness to attend them, in the cantonments of Zungeru and Lokoja. The Principal Medical Officer reports that the attendance at these lectures which was optional was most satisfactory at Zungeru, but, unfortunately, poor at Lokoja. The lecturer at the former place was Dr. G. R. Twomey, and his series of lectures has been printed and published.

These lectures, which, in the opinion of the present High Commissioner, are admirable, and prove that Dr. Twomey spared no pains in endeavouring to attain the object for which they were instituted, have now been circulated as far as possible to every clerk and literate native in the Protectorate.

Sir Percy Girouard hopes that it will be found possible to institute another course of lectures in the very near future.

Mediterranean.

CYPRUS.

The Chief Medical Officer has completed a primer, which has been translated into Turkish and Greek. The book has been approved by the Christian and Moslem Boards of Education, and will be printed and issued to all the Elementary Schools as soon as possible.

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Meletak

Reference :-

C.O. 885

9 PUBLIC RECORD OFFICE, LONDON

ALLY WITHOUT PERMISSION OF THE BE REPRODUCED PHOTOGRAPHIC- COPYRIGHT PHOTOGRAPH-NOT TO

SOUTHERN NIGERIA.

Western Province (Lagos).

Eleven schools offered candidates for the schools' examination in Sanitation held in the month of March, 1906. Of these two were disqualified, the teachers not holding the necessary certificates. In the remaining nine schools 406 children were examined in general knowledge of the subject as set forth in Dr. Strachan's Syllabus, and 36 were examined in Stage 1, that is to say, a more detailed knowledge of hygiene and the nature and causes of diseases. The number of children who passed is 292, that is to say, 183 of those examined in general knowledge and 19 of those examined in Stage 1. These figures show a marked increase on those of last year. Although a large percentage (55 per cent.) of the presentees failed, the results are by no means discouraging, a fair proportion of the children showing an intelligent interest in the subject and having useful acquaintance with such elementary laws of health as concern themselves as inhabitants of a tropical town.

At the annual competitive exhibition of the work of all the schools held in the month of December, 100 children were examined in Sanitation. The judges reported that the results on the whole were very good, and that the children showed excellent knowledge of local conditions.

An examination of school teachers and nurses for certificates in Elementary Sanitation was held on the 28th of May. Thirty-three candidates presented them- selves for examination; of these only fifteen failed to pass. This is decidedly satis- factory, especially in view of the fact that, with the exception of school teachers, the candidates were not specially trained for the examination.

GIBRALTAR.

The Inspector of Schools and the heads of the Government-aided schools having gone fully into the question, at the Governor's request, concur generally in the necessity of elementary hygiene being taught in the several schools. All concerned have expressed their willingness to assist in effectively carrying such teaching into operation, and to this end the schools are prepared to obtain, at their own expense, copies of Dr. Reynold's Primer of Hygiene, recommended by the National Associa- tion for the Prevention of Consumption, with a view of enabling the teachers to instruct themselves in the principles of hygiene, and follow such course of lectures on the subject as may be given by any medical gentleman nominated by the Colonial Government as lecturer.

It has been suggested that the lecturer should be a local practitioner with a knowledge of both the English and Spanish languages, and so far acquainted with local conditions as to make his instruction practical and useful not only to teachers but also to the senior scholars attending the lectures.

MALTA.

The Acting Governor states that, when Sir Charles Mansfield Clarke's despatch of the 8th September, 1906, was written, it was hoped that the course of lectures prepared for the instruction of school teachers would have been given in the course

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