CONCESSIONS TO PUPILS

Press, Volume LXXI, Issue 21386, 31 January 1935, Page 10

CONCESSIONS TO PUPILS

POST-PRIMARY SCHOOL FEES ANNOUNCEMENT BY MINISTER FOR EDUCATION IPKKSS ASSOCIATION TELEOBAU.) WELLINGTON, Januarv 30. It has been announced by th« Minister for Education (the Hon. S. G. Smith) that it is intended to continue the concessions that have been granted to fee-paying pupils in all types of Government postprimary schools for the last five years. Mr Smith said that though the position as to employment among young people had improved very distinctly during the last 12 months, there was still, particularly in some districts, a great deal of uncertainty as to the prospects of obtaining positions of any sort after leaving school. There were, unfortunately, many parents still in financial difficulty, and it had therefore been decided to continue for this year the concessions that have latterly been granted, both to junior and senior pupils in secondary, technical,- and district high schools. He had approved, therefore, of an extension of junior free places for an additional year for pupils at post-prim-ary schools who had not already held free places for more than two years, and who had failed to secure senior free places at the end of 1934; and also an extension to the end of the present year of the senior free places of pupils who would attain the age of 19 during the year. In the case of both junior and senior free place extensions, the parent must prove to the satisfaction of the Director of Education that he is unable to provide the necessary fees for the tuition of his child after the expiry of his free place. In the case of junior pupils, except in very special circumstances, no consideration will be given to any application for the concession if it is not made within a month after the reopening of the school. Parents will be expected in the first instance to apply to principals of schools.