Page:Statesman's Year-Book 1921.djvu/1151

 INSTRUCTION 1099

different churches; for Protestant Churches, about 1,388,000 guilders; for Roman Catholics, about 576,000 : and for Jews, about 14,000.

The number of adherents of the different churches in the various provinces, according to the census of 1909, was Dutch Reformed Church, 2,588,261 ; Other Protectants, 746,186; Catholics, 2,053,021; Jansenists, 10,082; Jews. 106,409 ; and other creeds or those of none, 353,158.

The government of the Reformed Church is Presbyterian. At the end of 1912 the Dutcli Reformed, Walloon, English Presbyterian, and Scotch Churches had 1 Synod, 10 provincial districts, 44 classes, and 1,362 parishes. Their clergy numbered about 1,640. The Roman Catholic Church had one archbishop (of Utrecht), 4 bishops, and 1,133 parishes. The Old Catholics had 1 archbishop, 2 bishops, and 27 parishes. The Jews had about 171 parishes.

Instruction.

Public instruction (primary) is given in all places where needed, religious convictions being respected. Instruction was made obligatory by the Act of 1900 ; the school age is from 6 to IS.

In 1806, and more expressly in 1848, secular instruction was separated from religions or sectarian instruction. The law on the point of the year 1879 is still in force. By a modification of the Act of 1887 public instruction is diminished and a greater share in education is left to private instruction, if approved as efficient by the State, in which case it is paid for out of public funds. The cost of public primary instruction is borne jointly by the State and the communes, the State contributing to the salaries of the teachers and being responsible for 25 per cent, of the costs of founding or purchasing schools. Important modifications of the law took place in the years 1901, 1905, 1910, 1912, 1917 and 1918.

The Secondary Education Act dates from the year 1863, but it has repeatedly been modified since. Superior instruction is given in the Jarger communities in public or private schools. Private schools may be endowed by the State, private professional schools also by the province and the community. The Higher Education Act dates from the year 1876, but it has repeatedly been modified since. Higher education is given at Univer- sities, in high schools, and grammar schools, either public or private. Private institutions may be endowed by the State. Tuition in Kinder- gartens has not been regulated by law.

The following table is taken from the Government returns for 1918-19 :

5 _

Pupils or students

Total Female

Institutions Number Teaching Staff

Universities (public) i. . . 4 3 J 1,863

Technical University. . . 1 81 113

Private University .... 1 14 —

High School of Commerce - 1 602 »

Classical (public) school* 34 504 8.S15 l.STO

Schools tor the working people. 4,338 53.y.»; 16,341

Nnvii.-ati.ju schools .... 101 1,314 —

Middle class schools. . . j 2J,0e4 7.587 uientary Schools :

Public 3.4-24

Private I 2,4<H5

infant Schools:

Public 206

Prirate ' 1,14

14.795 1.67 .'3

s.43*«

620.737 271,887

443,268 246,913

Sfi,64S 17,472

113,289 57.140

'Leiden (founded 157i), Utrecht (163C), Groninfen (1014) Amsterdam. In 1918 the Veterinary School at Utrecht, and the Agricultural School at Wigeningen were created Universities.

a Rotterdam. J Figures for the year 1*17-18.