References:Census Bureau, Caracas, Venezuela, July, 1920.Memoria del Ministro del Fomento, 1920.Confidential Report of Department of Commerce, 1919.Memoria de Instrucción Pública, 1918, 1919, 1920.Memoria de Obras Públicas, 1920, Vol. 1.Encyclopaedia Britannica.
References:
The last official census of Venezuela, which was completed in the year 1891, placed the population of the country at 2,323,527. According to the Venezuelan Year Book of 1904, 10% of the people are white and of European descent, but by far the larger part, possibly 70% of the total, is a mixed race in which white and Indian blood prevail, the remainder being pure Indian blood. It is not to be expected that the new census, begun in August, 1919, will show any great changes because of the three following reasons:[3]
1. The neglect of sanitation and hygiene in the past, which was responsible for a heavy death rate.
2. The numerous civil wars and revolutions, which ended however some fifteen years ago, when a reconstruction period commenced under the present régime.
3. Comparative lack of immigration, the actual increase being balanced by the yearly total of emigration of Venezuelans to foreign countries.
[3]In 1917 the population was estimated as 2,848,121. The last census, 1919-1920, may show some increase.
[3]In 1917 the population was estimated as 2,848,121. The last census, 1919-1920, may show some increase.
The future, however, holds brighter prospects due to the fact that remedies have been found for the first two causes, and energetic efforts are being made to increase immigration, as will be shown in detail later.
Within an area of approximately 394,000 square miles the greater part of the people is found in the regions of Lake Maracaibo, the Federal District of Caracas and along the Coast, the Southern and interior sections being to a great extent unknown and unexplored. The region of Barquisimeto in the state of Lara is the most densely populated area, while in Apure far to the south is found low swampy land, sparsely populated, interlacedwith a network of rivers, which in the rainy season cover the entire country with a blanket of water, making travel impossible for months and mail deliveries most difficult and irregular.
The agricultural zone extending along the coast and inland to the Orinoco, employs 20% of the population in this pursuit alone, and contains all the important cities of Venezuela, with the exception of Ciudad Bolívar. The largest city is Caracas, with a population (including the Federal District) estimated to-day at 137,687, an increase of 47,687 since 1891. Its sea-port is La Guaira, connected by a railroad winding around 23 miles of mountains. The second port of importance is Puerto Cabello in the vicinity of Valencia, the second largest city of Venezuela, which has a population estimated at 64,681. Maracaibo with 48,480 is the third largest city in Venezuela, being second in the country in business importance. This last district ought to have the heaviest increase in the future due to the location of the mines and petroleum wells in this area which attract the majority of immigrants, while its heavy coffee exportations offer a wide field for investment and employment.
Mérida, and Barcelona with its port of Juanta which serves the coal and salt mining regions, are two important populous regions while other cities varying in population from 10,000 to 50,000 are Ciudad Bolívar, Barquisimeto, Trujillo and Juanare.
A glance at the following data, with the last two reports approximately estimated, will serve to show the increase.
1891officialcensus2,323,027Ratiopersquarekilometer221911""2,743,833""""261917""2,848,121""""27
The most heavily populated districts are:
Federal District137,687Densitypersquarekilometer70.2Carabobo193,234""""43.9Nueva Esparta52,431""""39.6Trujillo185,624""""24.4
The least populated states are:
Bolívar69,938Densitypersquarekilometer.03Apure30,008"""".04
The territories which have had no increase since 1891:
Amazonas45,097Densitypersquarekilometer.02Delta-Amaeuro9,243"""".02
Revised statistics June 19, 1920, for the city of Caracas:
Catedral12,229Altagracia14,280Santa Teresa6,050Santa Rosalia19,284Candelaria13,344San Juan16,436La Pastora11,409San Jose6,688Total90,720Remainder of District46,967District total137,687
Yearly increase of population estimated from comparative statistics of births, deaths, immigration and emigration:
191028,091191130,310191211,797191324,050191424,988191512,90419169,589191720,35919188,308191920,590
The nationalities that immigrate to Venezuela, in order of numbers, at the present time are Americans, Germans, Italians, Spaniards, Syrians, Hollanders, with few French and English. Of these, the Spaniards, Italians and Syrians alone, with a few odd exceptions, become citizens. Before the war, Germany furnished the preponderant immigrant element but to-day the Germans are coming in fewer numbers, and Americans are increasing proportionately.
The reasons for the American increase are mainly the establishment of three branches of the Royal Bank of Canada in Venezuela in 1916; the National City Bank of New York with two branches, one in Caracas the other in Maracaibo, and the Mercantile Bank of America with branches in the same two cities. As mentioned above, the petroleum activities in San Lorenzo in the Maracaibo district, the mines and coffee ventures, also brought many Americans.
The lack of immigration in the past has been due mainly tosanitary conditions, and the internal troubles of the country. The foreigner, if unmolested long enough to build up a profitable business, faced the danger of having it swept away, and his life endangered during one of the frequent revolutionary outbreaks prior to the present régime. However, great efforts are being expended to promote immigration as vitally necessary for the future successful upbuilding of the country, for Venezuela relies for her increase in population upon this source and consequently several methods have been pursued to attain this end. A glance at the laws of immigration formulated January 7, 1893, will show the favorable inducements offered foreigners.
The Decree of 1893 created a Board of Immigration to promote colonization. The Board is known as the Central Board of Immigration and established subordinate boards throughout the country. These societies, state societies, as well as private companies, were authorized to make the following favorable concessions to induce foreigners to come and colonize unused lands.
1. Payment of the immigrant's passage by land and sea, from the place of embarkation to any of the main immigrant depots. The National Government may also pay the passage of the immigrant from the place of residence to the place of embarkation.2. Payment of landing expenses and board and lodging for thirty days after arrival.3. Admission free of duty of their wearing apparel, domestic utensils, and instruments of trade.4. Exemption of any payments for necessary passports.
1. Payment of the immigrant's passage by land and sea, from the place of embarkation to any of the main immigrant depots. The National Government may also pay the passage of the immigrant from the place of residence to the place of embarkation.
2. Payment of landing expenses and board and lodging for thirty days after arrival.
3. Admission free of duty of their wearing apparel, domestic utensils, and instruments of trade.
4. Exemption of any payments for necessary passports.
All rights accorded by law to aliens are guaranteed, and if naturalized they are exempt from military duties, except only in case of foreign wars.
Special provisions were also made in behalf of individuals and companies organizing colonies for settlement in Venezuela.
The manner of making contracts with immigrants is carefully specified in the following manner:
(a) Those who purchase lands during the first two years of their settlement, shall not be bound to pay the price thereof until after the expiration of four years, counted from the day actual possession is taken. They can not dispose of the land, however, during this period.(b) The title is not to be determined until the stipulated price is paid and the required cultivation and residence proved.
(a) Those who purchase lands during the first two years of their settlement, shall not be bound to pay the price thereof until after the expiration of four years, counted from the day actual possession is taken. They can not dispose of the land, however, during this period.
(b) The title is not to be determined until the stipulated price is paid and the required cultivation and residence proved.
Special provisions and concessions were also made for the colonization of public lands by private individuals and companies.
There is an annual appropriation in the National Budget to promote this project. At the time of this writing, Mr. Simon Barcelo is in Europe, traveling through the different countries inducing immigrants to come, and acting as a forwarding agent. The result of his endeavors is being manifested in the increased number of immigrants arriving within recent months.
Venezuela's immigration is bound to increase in the future, for advertisement is bringing results. The subjoined statistics will show that this is not the only problem confronting the Government, for the balance of immigration and emigration is only slightly in favor of the former, as many Venezuelans leave the country yearly for the West Indies, the United States and Europe. Whereas before the war, the majority of the youths were educated in Europe, and travelers naturally sought Europe, difficulty of communication and transportation during the war turned the stream toward the United States, and the present popularity of Americans in Venezuela bids fair to perpetuate this condition of affairs.
YearImmigrationEmigration19108,2737,23319119,2047,21919129,6157,981191311,61710,708191410,6109,74219159,8188,77019168,5967,63919177,8577,18219186,1535,841191912,43312,897
Education in Venezuela is free, and in the six primary grades is compulsory, the schools from the ages of 7 to 14 years being maintained by the National Government, State, or Municipality, the Department of Education being under the direct supervision of the Minister of Public Instruction, with subordinate officials forming a board. In 1908 Mr. Guillermo Todd, a distinguished Venezuelan educator, was sent to the United States, where he spent two years in the larger cities inspectingthe school system, the normal schools and universities. On his return he was appointed superintendent of schools, and reorganized the system, introducing many American ideas and methods which largely prevail to-day.
The maintenance of the educational system depends upon the receipts from stamps, from post-cards and letters, from fines collected from violators of the instruction laws; from taxes upon inheritances, imposts upon tobacco leaves and manufactures, and from the proceeds of the revenue stamps placed upon boxes of cigars.
During the school year of 1919 there were founded two primary schools with three teachers each, two with two teachers and nine schools with one teacher. Two schools were suspended and eleven changed into co-educational with one teacher, while thirteen schools changed their location. Heretofore education has followed the population only. Outside the cities, towns and large cities near the coast there were scant educational facilities, and the rural population was to a large extent uninstructed, there being no schools nor teachers. During 1917 a movement was inaugurated to establish rural schools in all industrial districts, and migratory schools of this kind are now in operation in Frujillo, in Mario El Cantado and Caracas, the states and municipalities have taken the matter in hand. On September 19, 1919, a decree was passed by the National Government to offer a bonus in the form of wages, of from 100 to 200 bolivares ($20.00 to $40.00) to competent persons possessing a certificate of primary elemental instruction, who would enroll and teach children below fourteen years of age the rudiments of education in localities of small population where there were no public schools nor teachers. The bonus to be received varied according to the number of pupils enrolled; many small classes are now in operation throughout the rural districts.
The Obligatory Instruction Law compelling children from 7 to 14 years of age to attend class has been rigidly enforced by Government decree during 1919; a list of offending parents is compiled and they are visited by educational officers, and fined if found guilty of not sending their children to school. By an order of June 20, 1919, English is to be henceforth taught in all primary schools, in view of its present importance as a commercial language. On September 1, 1919, appropriation being made,two new Manual Training Schools were founded, one at Mérida, the other at San Cristobal. Physical training is now considered an important part of the training, and at least a half-hour a day is spent in calisthenics and gymnastic training. In 1918 the Boy Scouts movement was proposed, and introduced into the schools of Maracaibo, where under the supervision of Mr. W. Douglas it has been intertwined with the courses of the public educational institutions. This movement is now receiving national prominence, and gained favorable commendation in the Memoria de Instrucción Pública (1918).
According to the latest data, there are approximately 1,500 primary schools in Venezuela with 50,000 pupils enrolled, but the system is laboring under the difficulty of a lack of teachers, due to inadequate compensation. The children attend school six days a week, but on Saturday have class in the morning only. The curriculum consists of a daily lecture or assembly, elements of the Spanish language, arithmetic, the legal system of weights and measures, rudiments of etiquette and hygiene, moral and civic instruction, gymnastic exercises or national songs, and elements of manual training. The afternoon classes embrace writing, geography, history, topics of the day and gymnastic exercises.
The Secondary Education of Venezuela is not as generally widespread, in proportion, as primary education. There are 102 schools of this class corresponding to high schools in the United States; 58 are for boys, 38 for girls, and 4 are co-educational. Some are grouped into Federal Colleges and Normal Schools annexed to Federal Schools in Caracas and Valencia.
Caracas is nominally the center of education in Venezuela. Here are found two normal schools, one for men and one for women, and two national schools of arts and trades, one for each sex. In 1917 Schools of Commerce were instituted at Caracas, Maracaibo, Puerto Cabello, Curúpano and Ciudad Bolívar. These are similar to our own commercial schools, teaching languages, bookkeeping, stenography, accounting and the like. Besides, there are found throughout the country thirty-four schools of higher instruction, and twenty-one subsidized by the Government.
One institution, founded June 30, 1919, may be interesting to note,viz, the National Telegraph School of Caracas in which thefirst pupils were enrolled from July 1 to 7, 1919. The school is situated in the Federal Telephone and Telegraph Building.
The candidate must have the following qualifications:
There are six National Universities, located in the following cities:
The following courses are pursued in the Universities: Medicine, Law, Political Science, Philosophy and Letters, Dentistry and Pharmacy.
The length of these courses is six years with the exception of pharmacy, which is a four-year course.
Among the professional schools the following are of greater importance:
1. School of Engineering at Caracas.
2. School of Naval Construction at Puerto Cabello.
3. School of Political Science at San Cristobal.
4. School of Medicine in Caracas (founded December, 1915). A free dispensary is attached, subsidized by public funds under the direction of Civil Hospitals.
5. School of Dentistry, Caracas (1916).
6. School of Sciences (Physical, Natural and Mathematical) Caracas (December, 1915).
7. School of Chemical Research.
Of the Academies the more important are:
1. Those of natural science, music, oratory and modern languages found in the larger cities.
2. The Academy of Language in Caracas devoted to the national language and literature.
3. The Academy of History in Caracas devoted to national history.
4. One seminary at Caracas,—the Catholic Seminary for Theology and Canonical Jurisprudence.
Under "miscellaneous" we may consider the following:
The National Library of Caracas containing 50,000 volumes; a national museum containing a valuable historical collection; the Cajigal Observatory devoted to Astronomical and Meteorological work; the libraries of Valencia and Maracaibo, and the Pasteur Institute in Caracas.
Among the educational achievements of the past few years, the following are worthy of mention:
1. Departments for engineering work.
2. Departments for the administration of budget.
3. Improvements in laboratories in physics, mineralogy, geology, botany and zoology.
4. Enlargement of the libraries and improvement of the school of medicine.
5. The schools of arts and crafts for men has 541 men enrolled. The clever map making of the students should be especially noted.
6. The meteorological stations in Mérida, Maracaibo and Calabozo.
The appropriation for education for the fiscal year July 1, 1920 to June 30, 1921, recently passed by the Venezuelan Congress, contains the following items:
Bolivares1.Ministry120,5802.National Council of Instruction119,0163.Primary Education2,465,5424.Secondary Education259,2405.Normal Education203,9406.Board of Inspection135,6007.Superior Instruction and Institutes of University Extension373,7818.Special Instruction326,6729.Celebrations and Entertainments143,94010.General Costs180,000TotalBs. 4,328,181
It may be said in conclusion that Venezuela fully recognizes the importance of sound educational institutions and every effort is being expended to bring about the desired results through legislation. The work is slowly materializing but assuredly progressing. By far the greatest problem is the lack of professors. Educational progress has of necessity been retarded in the past but as the era of prosperity of the country has been gradually, but surely, dawning, this important branch has not been neglected, and a brighter future is before the Venezuelan youths which will preclude the necessity of going abroad, as they have done in the past, to complete their training.
The country has need of highly educated men; it is determined to provide the institutions necessary to satisfy these needs.
Thomas F. Morris.