A SOUTH AFRICAN NATIVE COLLEGE.
[To THE EDITOR OF THE "SPECTATOR."]
Eta,—The South African Native Races Committee desire to draw attention to a scheme for establishing a South African Native College for training native teachers and providing higher educa- tion for native students.
The establishment of a College of this kind was recommended in 1903 by the South African Native Affairs Commission and was warmly advocated by the late Dr. James Stewart of Lovedale. The need of such an institution is great. The natives are eager for education and have contributed large sums for schools. The native school enrolment has risen from nine thousand in 1850 and eighty thousand eight hundred in 1894 to no less than one hundred and seventy thousand in 1909. But the existing schools for natives, almost all of which are carried on by representatives of the Churches and missionary societies, are greatly hampered by the lack of properly trained native teachers, and with few exceptions are too poor to supply more than the rudiments of education. Natives are not admitted to the schools and College for the whites, and many have sought in America or elsewhere the educational opportunities denied to them at home,—a course which has serious disadvantages.
The College scheme has the hearty approval of Lord Selborne .and Lord Milner, and of the officials and missionaries and others best acquainted with the educational needs of the natives. The Minister of Education has expressed his sympathy, and an adequate annual subsidy from the Union Government is con- fidently expected. Meetings in support of the scheme have been held in many parts of South Africa, and large contributions, including X17,750 from native sources, have been given or promised. A strong representative Executive Board has been appointed by a Conference of representatives of the contributors to carry out the scheme and to act as trustees.
A site has already been acquired near Lovedale, in the Cape Province. It is intended to vest the control of the College in a Gioverning Council, including representatives of the Government, of the trustees of the money contributed, of the University, and of Churches co-operating. The Churches have been invited to build for their students hostels in which religious training could be provided. The sum required for establishing the College is X50,000, of which £42,250 (in money and land) has already been given or promised, the greater part being conditional upon at least X50,000 being received or promised. About £10,000 is thus still required ; and, at the request of the Executive Board, the South African Native Races Committee earnestly appeal for contribu- tions. Donations should be paid into the account of the South African Native Races Committee (Native College Fund) at the Standard Bank of South Africa, 10 Clement's Lane, E.C. The Committee will be glad to supply further particulars.—On behalf of the South African Native Races Committee, we are, Sir, &b.,
JOHN MACDONELL, Chairman.
ALFRED F. Fox Z Hem Secretaries. A. LISTER HARRISON ) 15 Dean's Yard, Westminster, S.W.
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