FEWER STUDENTS.

Auckland Star, Volume LXI, Issue 192, 15 August 1930, Page 7

FEWER STUDENTS.

PROPOSAL IN REPORT.

TECHNICAL EDUCATION.

GIVEN UNIVERSITY STATUS

CONTROL OF TRAINING COLLEGES

(By Telegraph.—Parliamentary Reporter.); WELLINGTON, this day.

Those recommendations of the Select Committee on Education proposing a drastic reorganisation of University education are dealt with under a. separate heading. Some of the leading suggestions in the report on 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 entrance examination be restricted to candidates who sign a statement of their intention to.proceed to the University if successful in passing such examination. It is recommended that a University Schools Board of Studies be set up, comprising representatives of the University College, the Education Department and the 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 thegeneral lecturers so handed over be utilised to reduce the size of classes in the University arts and science departments.

Technical Education. 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 the technical colleges be continued as technical college councils, together with their associated apprenticeship and other committees. (b) That every effort be made to develop technical "colleges as institutions for the higher technical education of adults and adolescents in employment, and for the training of apprentices.

(c) That the schools of mines, at present under the control of the Department of Mines, be transferred to the Education Department, end their work, eo'-ordinated with that of the technical colleges.

,(d) That non-matriculated students of University colleges be transferred as far as is practicable to the technical colleges, with provision for the recognition of technical work done therein, iii.the event of -Students- subsequently matriculating and desiring to proceed -to-degrees.

'■-'■ (e) That in each of the four chief centres an approved number of members of the University, College 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 iechnological examinations in New Zealand.

General Questions. Further important proposals of .the committee include the following:— That the present system of awarding University and other bursaries and allowances for higher education, including training college studentships, be 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 should be endorsed with the' recommendation of the superintendent of education of the district in-which the applicant resides, or of the dean of the faculty -within which the student is pursuing his studies, and should be considered upon its -own merits. .. . ,; Religious Teaching. That no system of religious 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 lake part in religious 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 jnay be authorised by law. That the medical examination of children bo 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 the medical examination discloses a need for such education. Home Work Discouraged. In "the opinion of the committee home work in primary schools should not be necessary. It considers that in the primary schools the setting al 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 be reduced to a minimum. Corporal punishment sliould be reduced to a minimum, and a record be kept in all eases -where it is inflicted. .■■' - '■•.••• ' ' -■• -