BY THE REV. N. CAMERON.
THE following particulars are taken from a letter received since the Report was sent:—
The Inspector of Schools decided that the Central School at Ingwenya has done the work of a secondary school during last year, and that consequently it should be raised to that status, also that the usual grant to secondary schools should be given for last year’s work.
The pupils which were present from Lebani acquitted themselves so well that he thought that school should also be raised to a secondary standard. This is very satisfactory and encouraging both to Mr Tallach and the Church at home. The inspector urged that the industrial side of teaching should be taken up there, and advised that agriculture should be the subject. He promised to do his best to procure 100 acres of land for this purpose, and asked Mr Tallach to meet him at Buluwayo, so as to have an interview with the Chief Native Commissioner on the matter. It is understood that the Government of Rhodesia will pay £200 of the salary of a Teacher of Agriculture whose qualifications will prove satisfactory to them. This amount means three-fourths of the salary, the Home Church paying one fourth.
The Report shows that steps were taken last year by the Convener by which the Director of Education at Salisbury was approached for raising the school at Ingwenya to the standing of a secondary one. The Convener has not as yet received the decision of the Education Department concerning the matter, but hopes that he will soon have a favourable reply. Then the Committee will take the whole matter into consideration so as to have arrangements carried out. Another branch of the teaching proposed will take up sewing, cooking, etc. These two branches of education are very needful among our people in Rhodesia. As regards agriculture, all that the natives do is to sow mealies and Kaffir corn. If these fail on account of drought, they are face to face with famine and grim death. They have no idea of providing provender for their cattle, so they lose them in scores every year during the nine months in which they have no rain. This deplorable state of affairs could be rectified by some knowledge of agriculture. The same is true to a large extent as to sewing, cooking, etc. The women and men are very intelligent, so that instruction on these lines would not be lost labour. It would also spread knowledge beyond the bounds of the Mission among the heathen untouched as yet.
There are many encouraging things in Mr Tallach’s report, especially the number now on their communion roll. It leaves no room for doubt as to the presence and power of the Holy Ghost; seeing so many brought from darkness to light and from the Kingdom of Satan to the Kingdom of God’s dear Son. This should move us as a Church and as individuals, to do all we can to help the good work on.