ABSTRACT
The doctrine of trusteeship implied the eventual independence of African colonies although there was wide difference of opinion about when this might occur. The Butler Act of 1944, based on the findings of earlier expert committee reports, attempted to provide for a system of secondary schools in England which had different curricula, but equal status. However it does seem clear that the early Phelps-Stokes Commission insistence on the need for education to promote the regeneration of African societies was in some conflict with the view that Africa should be offered the best and broadest education that Britain could provide. One of the ten Europeans present was reported as saying that the Commission had taken the unusual course of listening while the Africans explained what they believed was good for Africa. The typically paternalist division between ‘the reader’ and ‘them’ was beginning to be eroded.
