ABSTRACT

The origins of educational provision in Gibraltar, therefore, go right back to the early decades of the occupation. In an immigrant local population of mixed ethnic and often Roman Catholic origins, serving non-Mediterranean, Proteslan and colonial masters, influences inevitably have been complex. Yet, above all, British power has held sway and the clear and unopposed assumption has been that British educational models should be followed. This view still prevails today with respect to the areas jusl analysed. It has also been true of important sectors now to be considered: special education, further education, private education and higher education. Each in its way has sustained the socialization process. However, a new factor affects these more recently developed sectors in particular: they have evolved against a background of Britain's declining world influence and the de-colonization of its dependent territories, with obvious implications for Gibraltar. While Gibraltar has not advanced as far as others down the road towards self-detemination a good deal of autonomy has been acquired in the management of civil affairs, including education. Through the process of ‘localization’ and administrative change, connrol has passed to the Gibraltarians while the foundations have remained British.