V 



and 

 hird 



176 TRINIDAD. 



entitled to receive aid from the public funds of the colony on the 

 following conditions : — 



First. That provision, to the satisfaction of the Board of 

 Education, be made for the control and management of the 

 schools by a local manager or managers. 



Second. That the school be open at all times to inspection or 

 examination by the inspector of schools, or by any officer 

 appointed by Government for the purpose. 



Third. That the average daily attendance at the school, com- 

 puted on a period of a year, be not less than twenty-five. 



Subject to the provisions of the ordinance, the aid to which 

 any school becomes entitled consists of a certain annual capita- 

 tion grant, according to the results of an annual examination of 

 the school in secular instruction by an inspector of schools, such 

 annual capitation grant being at the rate of : — 



(1) One pound sterling for each pupil passed in the First 

 Second Standards. 



(2) Twenty-five shillings for each pupil passed in the Thii 

 and Fourth Standards. 



(3) Thirty shillings for each pupil passed in the Fifth and 

 Sixth Standards. 



Governor Irving' s system of primary education is, in my 

 opinion, an improvement upon the systems of Lord Harris and Sir 

 Arthur Gordon, inasmuch as it does not interfere with the 

 religious feelings of the people, and gives facilities for the 

 establishment of purely denominational schools; and tends to 

 create a wholesome spirit of emulation among the different 

 religious communities existing in the island. Anybody may, 

 on complying with the provisions of the ordinance, establish a 

 school, and become entitled to receive aid from the funds of the 

 colony. Under this new system the number of schools has 

 increased, as also the attendance of children. 



Sir Arthur Gordon had not rested satisfied with the changes 

 which he had introduced into the system of primary education 

 established by Lord Harris ; and in 1870 he had an ordinance 

 passed changing the name of the " Queen's Collegiate School " 

 to that of the t( Royal College of Trinidad." The college was 

 placed under the management of a council ; and it was made 

 lawful for the college council to declare any school of secondary; 

 education to be a school in connection with the Royal College,. 



