New Caledonians

Reject French

Move On Education

From Fred Dunn in Noumea New Caledonia’s Territorial Assembly has turned down an offer by the French Metropolitan Government to take control of secondary education in New Caledonia.

THE Assembly decided not to accept the offer at a special session in late August. Voting was 16 to 13 —the majority Union Caledonienne Party swaying the decision.

The offer was subject to the con dition that the money saved by the Metropolitan Government’s proposed take-over would be devoted to primary education in the territory.

In turning down the offer, the Union Caledonienne took the view that the Metropolitan Government’s move might be one more step towards making New Caledonia just another department of France, which would leave the local government with little power, and would make the country automatically subject to all laws passed in France, including income tax.

Key Posts

Earlier, New Caledonia’s Governor, Mr. Jean Risterucci, told the Assembly what has often been said before—that New Caledonia is not producing enough men or women of sufficient education to take over key posts in the local administration.

Mr, Risterucci said the fault lay with primary education, in that the ill-equipped and under-staffed schools were unable to prepare all scholars for higher education.

There was only one remedy for this, and that was for New Cale donia to accept the Metropolitan Government’s offer.

In a few years, 60 per cent, of the country’s revenue would be needed for education and New Caledonia would find itself in a desperate situation.

Mr. Risterucci said France was not trying to deprive the local Assembly, of any of its powers. It was only natural that, as France and New Caledonia were both members of the big French family, the stronger mem ber should wish to lighten the burden of the lesser member.