EDUCATION SYSTEM

Ashburton Guardian, Volume 50, Issue 260, 16 August 1930, Page 2

EDUCATION SYSTEM

COMMITTEE'S REPORT. IMPORTANT RECOMMENDATIONS TWO UNIVERSITIES FAVOURED. (Special to the "Guardian.") WELLINGTON, August 15. In the second portion of its report on the.education system of the Dominion, the Parliamentary Select Committee on Education proposes the abolition, of the University of New Zealand and the grouping of existing institutions under two headings, one group in the North Island, and the second in the South Island. After most careful investigation and consideration, the committee 1 came to the unanimous conclusion that a clear case for the fundamental reorganisation of the New .Zealand University system had heen disclosed. On the one hand, says the report, it found that the universitv teaching colleges were starved for lihrary and research facilities and seriously understaffed, especially in the arts and science classes, yet on the other hand, in the case of the special schools, such as engineering and forestry, they were engaged in open and expensive competition of a nature which could not be considered other than inimical to the economical 1 and efficient development of these branches of education in the Dominion. Over all, the committee found the New Zealand University with anparentlv no other function than that of conducting formal degree, scholarship and matricuation examinations, which, the committee felt, could be otherwise satisfactorily provided for, oi' altogether omitted without materiallv impairing the efficiency of the teaching institutions. Weighed in Balance.

It was quite clear to the corrfmittee that it was impossible to look to tho State at the present time for further money with which to provide the undeniably necessary library and stamn,g additions for colleges. The committee was constrained, therefore, to weigh in the balances the comparative- importance of these as against the continuance of the present examination system conducted by the New Zealand University. The committee, therefore recommends that the New Zealand University be disestablished and that its accumulated fifnds and annual revenue f'.om State sources be made available- for the improvement ot libraries and staffing conditions at university colleges in accordance Willi the scheme set out below : > (A) That the existing university colleges, agricultural colleges, research institutions, teachers' training colleges and the four city technical colleges be consolidated within each island to form two self-contained universities. (B) That these universities be universities of a limited charter, with provision for reciprocity in the recognition of degrees and diplomas, and that they be empowered to arrange tor joint examinations, as may be found desirable. . .. „ . , (C) That the governing body of e.icn universitv he composed of representatives elected by each of the constituent institutions, and that each institution should contribute a proportionate share of expenses incurred by such governing body. Unified Control.

(D) That in order to ensure the iullest co-ordination between, the research and teaching institutions lwthin each university, the Departments of Education and of Scientific and Industrial Research be placed under the same Ministerial control. (E) (i) That of the accumulated funds of the New Zealand University the sum of '£20,000 be devoted to the immediate equipment of university college libraries and the remainder set apart as a permanent endowment for their maintenance; (ii) that the annual savings effected by the abolition of the present New Zealand University examinations and reorganisation oi the bursary system, as hereinafter provided for", be devoted to improving the staffing of the university colleges, particularly in the arts and science departments ; (iii) that the endowment known as the Qpaku Reserve be resumed as t national endowment tor the benefit of the University of Jsorthern New Zealand, and that the revenue therefrom be devoted to the purposes set out in the sub-clause above; (iv) that an investigation, he made into the value of all public educational endowments in New Zealand in order to ascertain whether greater benefit can be derived from them and that the whole of the endowments be dealt with on a national basis. ..-,„„ (Y) That a uniform scale of staffing and salaries be adopted for all. institutions concerned within the two universities, and that all salaries of teaching staffs be paid by the Government direct. . . , , . . _„ (G) That as an initial basis of reorganisation the Universities of JSorthern and Southern New Zealand be empowered to conduct courses and grant decrees in those subjects and schools for" which their work is at present approved by the New Zealand Univerftl) That provisions similar to those contained, in the present New Zealand University Act he made for the purpose of safeguarding the national interests with respect to the establishment of new schools or the expansion of existing schools within the university colleges. Entrance and Degree Examinations. (I) With respect to the standard and nature of the university entrance and degree examinations, the committee recommends : (i) that if and in-so-far as these are inferior to the standards ot the best British univeristies, they should as soon as possible be brought into line therewith; (ii) that as far as is practicable the examination system be an internal one, in which the class records of the candidates should be regarded as of equal weight with the results of any formal examinations held, and that all examinations as far as is possible should accordingly be conducted by New Zealand examiners; (m) that 'in accordance with the essential function of the universities as teaching and research, rather than degreegranting institutions, every encouragement be offered, as recommended hereinafter to enable matriculated students to attend full time at the university colleoes, and that in order to prevent hardship, close individual consideration be given to every application for exemption from such attendance, each ease to he decided strictly upon merits; (iv) that in order to encouraoe research work on the part of students, conditions should he attached to all university scholarships rethe holders to undertake approved" research work and to present a report thereon. The opinion is expressed that all the facilities indicated above can be provided from the grouped resources without calling on the State for additional

funds. The revenue of the New Zealand University and the four eonstitu r ent colleges is stated as follows: £ Universitv of New Zealand ... 10,446 Auckland 20,426 Victoria ••• 16,593 Canterbury 14,219 Otago 26,220 Total £87,904 In addition, there is the following revenue from interest and endowments : £ University of New Zealand ... 3,646 Auckland 5,8b8 Victoria 4,748 Canterbury i?'£s Otago 21,187 ■ Total £55,028 The income from examination and other students' fees, £27,225,- exceeds the examination expenses by approximately £IO,OOO annually.

POST-PRIMARY INSTRUCTION. THE TECHNICAL COLLEGES. to the "Guardian.") WELLINGTON, August 15. An additional report on the education system of New Zealand has been prepared by the Select .Committee ot the House of Representatives covering all the aspects of the question beyond the primary stage. The report is so extensive that it is difficult to embody even the whole of the recommendations in a brief article. Those proposino- drastic reorganisation of university education are dealt with under separate heading. Some of the leading suggestions in the report on the other aspects are given below. An extensive section of the report deals with school-leaving certificates and university entrance examinations. The committee sets out a system of individual record for each pupil following on the primary school course and recommends that the University candidates who sign a statement of their intention to proceed to the university if successful in passing such examination. It is recommended that (a) a University Schools Board of Studies be set up, comprising representatives of the universities, the Education Department, and public and registered non-state secondary schools, to consider all questions relating to secondary school studies, examinations and certificates, and to advise the university councils and the Education Department thereon. The training of teachers is the subject of a number of recommendations, the chief of which is that the training colleges in the four centres be handed over to the control of the university college authorities, together with their buildings equipment and staffs, and that the general lecturers so handed over to be utilised to reduce the size of the classes in the university arts and science departments. The committee's proposals regarding technical education, which are very fully discussed in its report, are focussed into the following recommendations: (a) That, subject to the changes in administration recommended the existing boards of governors of technical colleges be continued as technical college councils together with other associated apprenticeship and other committees ; (b) that every effort be made to develop technical colleges as institutions for higher technical education for adults and adolescents in employment and for the training of apprentices; (c) that schools of mines at present under the control of the Dered to the Education Department and their work co-ordinated with that of the technical colleges; (d) that the now-matriculated of the university colleges be transferred, as far as is practicable, to the technical colleges with provision for recognition of the technical work done therein in the event of the students subsequently matriculating and desiring to proceed to degrees; (e) that in each of the four chief centres of an approved number of members of the. university college i council be appointed to membership of the technical college council and vice versa, and that a joint advisory committee be set up by both councils to consider and advise upon matters of common interest; (f) that the Universities of Northern and Southern New Zealand should each set up a faculty of technical education to advise upon all applications by technical colleges for university recognition of courses, and to arrange for the joint conduct of all technological examinations in New Zealand. Further important proposals ot the committee include the following : That the present system of awarding university and other bursaries and allowances for higher education, including training college studentships, he revised, and that the bursary system recommended be supplemented by the institution of a system of State financial assistance to deserving students by way of either straight-out grants or loans, with or without interest, upon such repayment terms as may be deemed advisable according to the special circumstances involved, each application for assistance to be endprsed with the recommendation of the superintendent of education in the district in which the applicant resides, or of the dean of the faculty within which the student is pursuing his studies, and to be considered upon its own merits. That no system of religous instruction in State schools should be authorised such as will compulsorily require any State teacher to disclose his or her religious beliefs, or his or her adherence to any particular denomination, or to take part in religous exercises other than of his or her own free will, but that, on the other hand, the fullest liberty should be given to those teachers who desire of their own accord to assist in the Nelson, or any similar system, of religious instruction that may be authorised by law. _ That the medical examination ot children be extended to include all primary and secondary school children in the Dominion, and that the training and duties of teachers be so arranged as to enable them to give adequate attention to the suitable physical education of children in cases where medical examination discloses a need for such education. In the opinion of the committee, home work in primary schools should not be necessary. It considers that in the primarv schools the setting of home work* in grammar and arithmetic should be prohibited, and that in all schools, post-primary as well as primary* the imposition of home work should he reduced to a minimum, corporal punishment should he reduced to a minimum, and a record should be kept in all cases where it is inflicted.