A classroom in a mission school at Menyamya

Abstract

A classroom in a mission school at Menyamya in New Guinea. The first permanent Mission station was established by the London Missionary Society at Port Moresby in Papua in 1874, some 30 years after Catholic missionary attempts in the Trobriand Islands. At 30th June, 1960, there were 1,905 non-indigenous missionaries belonging to 42 mission groups working in the Territory. At the same date, 906,274 native adherents were claimed. In addition to their spiritual work, the Missions, assisted by Government subsidies totaling £547,325 in 1960-61, provide education and medical facilities for many of the native people. In June, 1960, about 4,752 teachers in 3,627 mission schools were catering for 173,733 native pupils. Although, for the most part, instruction is not at a high level (despite a great efficiency in certain individual schools) the missions are making vigorous efforts to raise the general standards of their schools. A great deal has already been achieved to this end.