772
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
