THE BAHAMA ISLANDS 



599 



Education. 



It has been shown in the chapter on " The History of the Bahamas " 

 that the educational requirements in these Islands has been constantly in- 

 creased. Under the present law all parents are required to send their chil- 

 dren to school between the ages of six and thirteen. Education is non- 

 sectarian, and no catechisms or sectarian exercises are permitted in any of 

 the public schools. 



There are two classes of public schools in the Bahamas, those which are sup- 

 ported by the government, known as " Board Schools," and those which are 

 assisted by the government, known as " Assisted Schools." No fees for edu- 

 cation are charged at any of the public schools. The following table shows 

 the number of schools of both classes with their attendance for the years 

 1899-1902 : 



table showing schools and attendance from 1899 TO 1902. 



1902. 



Number of schools wholly maintained out of the 



annual grant 



Number of schools which received grants in aid 



Number of pupils who attended Board Schools during 



some portion of the year 



Number of pupils who attended the Assisted Schools 



during some portion of the year 



Number of names on the rolls (Board Schools) 



Number of names on the rolls (Assisted Schools) 



Average attendance (Board Schools) ... 



Average attendance (Assisted Schools) 



Total number of schools 



Number of scholars present during some portion of 



the year 



Average number of names on the rolls 



Average attendance 



45 

 15 



7,432 



1,434 

 6,243 

 1,296 

 4,416 



887 

 60 



8,866 

 7,534 

 5,223 



The total cost of the Department of Education for the year ending 1903 

 is £5001 12s. 2d. 



In addition to public schools there are facilities for higher and sectarian 

 education at Nassau. Queen's College, a Methodist institution, takes pupils 

 of both sexes. St. Andrews Hall is under Presbyterian management. The 

 Eoman Catholic Church is also represented by an academy for higher edu- 

 cation and by two schools for elementary education. In regard to the edu- 

 cation of the Bahamas as a whole, there is no one who can speak with better 

 authority than Governor Carter. It Will be interesting in conclusion, therefore, 

 to read what he has to say on this subject : 



