Page:Statesman's Year-Book 1921.djvu/824

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COLOMRTA

Religion and Instruction.

The religion of the nation is Roman Catholicism. There are 4 Catholic archbishops, viz. of Bogota, Cartagena, Medellin, and Popayan, the first having 4 suffragans and the other three 2 a-piece. One of the suffragan sees is Panama, belonging to ecclesiastical province of Cartagena, and now also to the Republic of Panama. Other forms of religion being permitted, so long as their exercise is ' not contrary to Christian morals nor to the law. '

There is a Ministry of Public Instruction which has the supreme direction ef education throughout the Republic. Education is divided into primary, secondary, professional, artistic and industrial. In 1919 there were 5,236 primary schools with 321,696 pupils. Nearly all the schools for secondary education, maintained or assisted by the nation, are entrusted to religious corporations of the Catholic Church. In 1919 there were 75 secondary schools with 6,716 pupils ; 24 professional schools with 2,317 pupils, and 24 art and trade schools with 1,203 pupils. In 1920 there were altogether in Colombia 4,422 public and private elementary schools with 333,658 pupils. There were also 27 normal schools with 1,359 pupils. The oldest University is that of Bogota (founded 1572). This and the School of Mines at Medellin are national institutions. The other Universities are departmental. They are the Universities at Medellin (founded 1822), of Cartagena, of Popayan, and of Pasto. In 1917 these together had 2,488 students. For the working class there are many schools of arts and trades directed by the Salesian Fathers. There are other schools or colleges open under religious orders, and the school of fine arts has been reopened. Primary education is gratuitous but not compulsory. In 1919 the State spent 1,096,810 pesos on education.

The Republic possesses a national library, museum, and observatory at Bogota.

Finance.

Revenue and expenditure for 6 years in gold pesos : —

Year 1911

1910 1017-181

Revenue

12,0:>l.ill4 18,866,433

Expenditure

12,894,885

10,869,965

Year

1918-1!) 1920 1

Revenue

12,265,143

ndlture

19,089,574 •2,581

i Estimates.

The budget estimates for the year ending December 31, 1920, w<

follows: —

Revenue

Hold 1'esos !

Salt Tax

1,66

Railways

600,000

Telegraphs

"0O,000

Customs

'II

Consular Dues

12.000,000

Btampa ....

0,000

Succession Duties


 * oo,000

Total (inclii

revenues)

2:i,si

K\l>cnditure

Ministry of later lor

7,8«

Ministry of Foi

477,071

Ministry of Pittance

1.705,412

■ v of War

3,879,960

Public instruct ion

2,869

National Debt Ser\ icv

6,1 i

.

■',57-1

Agriculture & Commerce

For the financial year ending February 28, 1921, the expenditure was put down at 16,000,000 pesos, which with the deficit of 6,000,000 pesos of the