TiiK PiiouLKM OF Bantu Education in South Afkica. 339 



With the object of ascertaining accurately the opinions of repre- 

 sentiitive missionaries working in South Africa, upon the leading points 

 connected witli the problem of native education, I invited during the 

 present year one hundred of the leading educational missioiiaries to 

 express briefly their views. Care was taken to choose tlu>s<' who, by 

 virtue of their position as heads of important schools or of their 

 lengthy experience, conlil speak with authority, and a selectiim was 

 made from each mission numerically proportionate to the extent of its 

 work. T also endeavoured to apply the same princij^le in respect to 

 the colony in which the work was carried on. 



Sixty-five of these were so kind as to send in replies, and I was 

 fortunate enough to elicit the opinions of a conference of Catholic 

 Missionary Fathers which was meeting at Mariannhill at the time 

 my letter arrived. The results of this census may be summarised as 

 follows : — 



95 per cent, were in favour of the vernacular being used as the medium 

 of instruction in the elementary classes ; 83 per cent, expressed them- 

 selves as opposed to the curriculum for natives being the same as that 

 drawn up for use in European schools. On the question of religious 

 and moral instruction, 64 per cent, favoured a place being found for 



Chiefly coloured, as distinguished from native, pupils. 



