440 



BELGIUM. 



to read and write. The proportion is more favourable now,* and eveiy village bas 

 its school ; but the standard of education is very low, whether the schools are 

 conducted by laymen or congregationalists, and many children pass through 

 them without even learning to read fluently. Including adults, only about the 

 eighth part of the total population attends schools,! instead of the sixth, as in 

 AV^iirttemberg and other parts of Germany. The Flemings lag far behind the 

 Wallons in education, but since they have more or less emancipated themselves 

 from the yoke of the priests, formerly all-powerful amongst them, their schools have 

 been increasing in efficiency. + 



Fig. 244.— Eailway Map of Bllgium. 

 Scale 1 : 2,220,000. 



Perron) 



Intermediate education is carried on in 169 establishments, the number of 

 pupils in the schools conducted by priests being larger than in those of the State 

 or of private adventurers. 



* In 1840 56-17 per cent, of the recruits were sible to read and write ; in 1876, 76'17 per cent. 



t Educational statistics for 1875: — Primary schools, 5,856, with 10,750 teachers, 669,192 pupils 

 (included in this number are 2,615 schools for adults, with 204,673 pupils). Intermediate schools, 169, 

 with about 38,000 pupils. Universities, 4, with 2,627 students (1,179 at Louvain). Art and drawing 

 schools, 79, with 12,189 pupils. Conservatories of music, 2, with l,2sl pupils; 71 music and singing 

 schools, with 955 pupils. 



+ Suldiers unable to read : — 30 per cent, of the Wallons, 57 per cent, of the Flemings. 



