asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies what schools in Bechuanaland are to be closed in the programme for centralisation of secondary education; and why this decision has been taken before the visit of the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation Mission on Education which is to visit the Protectorate later this year.

One secondary school is to be closed. Two are to be developed as higher primary schools. The organisation of secondary education is part of the development plan for the Protectorate. At present provision exists for one new secondary school and the improvement of two others. Implementation of the remainder of the plan will be kept fluid pending advice of the U.N.E.S.C.O. mission and the provision of further funds.

How can it possibly make sense to have made this decision and then invited the U.N.E.S.C.O. mission to advise on it afterwards? Surely the decision should have been postponed until after its advice had been received? Very grave disquiet has been expressed by educationists in Bechuanaland about this proposal.

I do not think so. We are just making a limited start because the U.N.E.S.C.O. mission unfortunately took a very long time to materialise. It was first requested in January last year and it is not yet in Bechuanaland, so we thought that we had better get on a bit.

Supposing the mission recommends that this secondary school be reopened, will that be possible?

As advised by our education experts, we think that the steps we have taken are fairly safe and that the U.N.E.S.C.O. mission will not recommend otherwise.

Will the proposed changes increase the provision of secondary education in Bechuanaland? There is anxiety that schools should be faced with closure at a time when the need for secondary education is very great.

I understand the hon. Gentleman's anxiety. This is really a scheme for the centralisation of secondary education in six schools in order to provide better facilities and teaching. This is really a case of reculer pour mieux saucer.