Union of S. Africa

The bill on racial segregation at South African universities, which has been debated for years, which the National Union of Students NUSAS Is vehemently opposing, and which has been condemned in declaration of protest by a great number of student organisations throughout the world, was finally passed on April 10 by the South African Parliament. Thus white and coloured students will no longer study together at South African institutions of higher learning.

NUSAS declared that it would not give up the fight, but will rather call upon the world once more to protest against apartheid in the Union of South Africa's educational system. (Special report).

The Student's Representative Council at the University of the Witwatersrand has discovered that the Security Branch of the South African Police have been receiving regular information from an informer at the university. A girl who had been a Wits student for three years finally admitted to the President of the S.R.C. that for the past two years she had been acting as a spy and had passed on information regularly to the police. She said that she kept a look out for signs of trouble of left-wing activities. This included taking notes at student meetings and reporting who attended certain types of meeting.

When the President of the S.R.C. gave this information to the press, questions were asked in Parliament about Special Branch activities, and the President and the Vice-President of the Wits S.R.C. flew to Cape Town to request an interview with the Prime Minister. This request was refused and was referred to the Minister of Justice, but no letter had yet been received from his department. (Nux, Pletermaritzburg).

Denmark

Discussion about an academic reform is being carried on with great emphasis by the students and professors of the Danish universities. In the foreground of the debates is the question as to whether a more school-like study plan should be introduced at the beginning of study. Thorough investigations have shown that the sudden academic freedom can often have a negative effect on the young student. Hence it is considered to form the transition from school to university to be more continuous.

The form of instruction is to be somewhat relaxed in the last school year and somewhat tightened in the first year of university study. On the other hand it is desirable that anything which could hinder the young student from doing independent work be avoided. In the future distribution of scholarships a certain principle of selection is to be applied. Above all, attempts are to be made to induce young people who are not qualified for academic study to take up some other profession right away. (Studenterbladet, Copenhagen).

East Germany

Five of the group of "counterrevolutionary" students of the Institute of Technology in Dresden, who were arrested in February, were recently sentenced to hard labour prison terms of from five to 10 years by an East German court. Three West Berlin student representatives from both West Berlin universities participated in the trial as observers. Six more Dresden students from the same group were to appear before the court as soon as this trial was ended. The sentencing of the East German students has caused lively protests among the students and general public of West Germany. (Special Report.)

Hong Kong

An international student photography exhibition is being organised by the Photographic Society of the University of Hong Kong from October 5 to 10, 1959. Students from all over the world are eligible for participation. Each participant can send in up to eight photographs (black and white or coloured), on the back of which must be noted the participant's full name, address, and college or university. Participation fee: 0.50 U.S. dollars. The deadline for contributions is September 7. For further information write: Chairman Ng Shiukeen, A.R.P.S., First International Student Salon of Photography, The Photographic Society, University of Hong Kong. (Special Report).

Norway

A United Nations Seminar, in which youths and students between 19 and 28 years may participate, will take place August 8-19, 1959 in Hallingdal. The theme for the seminar is: "Fall of the Colonial System—New Nations in the World Community." The study programme provides for the discussion of problems of the new independent nations under the following aspects: Neutralism or engagement in the East-West conflict; national Independence and individual freedom: western aid for the new nations; multiracial, multilingual, multireligious states. The programme also includes an introduction to Norwegian cultural and political life as well as cultural events. (United Nations Association of Norway).

Pakistan

At a meeting in Karachi the representatives of numerous Pakistani student organisations declared their full support to the Algerian demand for independence. The student meeting called upon the government to recognise the exiled Algerian Government. (Dawn, Karachi).

Philippines

An educational Centre of Asia is scheduled to be opened in the Philippines on June 7, 1959. The organisers of the new school, which is expected to become the University of Asia in the future, said it would be opened to both Filipino and foreign students, especially those from neighbouring countries. Particular stress would be given to Asian culture, economics, arts, sciences and industrial research. (The Asian Student, San Francisco.)

The Fourth International Students Festival, held in February. 1959, at the University of the Philippines in Manila, was attended by delegates from 26 countries and featured educational, cultural and artistic exhibits. Attending and speaking at the opening ceremonies of the three-day festival was the Philippine President. Carlos P. Garcia. Throughout the festival, films from Belgium, Nationalist China, Britain, the Netherlands. Pakistan, the Philippines, Norway, Switzerland and South Vietnam were shown. (The Asian Student, San Francisco.)