EDUCATION "CUTS."

Ashburton Guardian, Volume 52, Issue 145, 31 March 1932, Page 6

EDUCATION "CUTS."

THE INSTITUTE'S ALTERNATIVE.' CONSERVING LOCAL INTEREST. (Special to the "Guardian.") WELLINGTON, March 30. The executive of the New Zealand Educational Institute has evolved an alternative scheme which will effect, it is claimed, economies equivalent to those recommended by the National Expenditure Commission in regard to education. The exectuive feels very strongly that the Commission's neglect to consult educational opinion before elaborating its proposals has resulted in a scheme of economy which cannot but be highly injurious to the system and unjust to the children. Briflev stated, the executive approves of a. National Board to control and supervise the system, but recommends that the principle of local interest should be conserved by the creation of district boards, inexpensively organised and equipped, each of .which would control primary, secondary and technical education; also, school committees should be retained. Substantial economies, it is considered, could be effected by bulk purchase by tender of school requisites, the abolition of departmental examinations, reduction of the inspectorate, reduction of teacher training by half, the elimination of small postprimary classes, savings in building expenditure, curtailment of departmental travelling expenses, and insistence upon school hostels being selfsupporting.

The Savings. The savings urged are set out as follows: Abolition of the existing fifty-four boards in favour of new unified boards, £60,000. Savings on account of the occupation of the .present board offices by other Government departments, £7OOO. ~-■*■ Bulk purchase of supplies for issue upon the requisition system and savings in expenditure upon the cleaning of schools. £40,000. Closing of smaller grade schools, £OOOO. ' . .. . Retention of certain' pupils in standard 7, £15,000. Elimination of small post-primary classes, £40,000. Increase in the average number Ot pupils in post-primary classes by 2i per cent., £45,000. • School hostels. £4OOO. Redueteion of teacher training by half, £86,400. ». Printing only one concise report and discontinuing the Education Gazette. £llsO. Head office travelling, £4OO. Saving in building expenditure, £200.000. Total, £504.950. The executive points out that this saving would be exclusive of economies possible in respect of university education and child welfare, tAvo departments which at present account for £325,595 of the expenditure on education. ■ ill It is intended that the report should be submitted at once to the National Expenditure Commission' and given publicity at the earliest possible moment.