EXTENSION OF FREE PLACES

Press, Volume LXXII, Issue 21714, 22 February 1936, Page 8

EXTENSION OF FREE PLACES

MINISTER'S APPROVAL CHILDREN OF INDIGENT ■: BABENTS

Ministerial approval of the continuance of the' practice of granting extensions to free places in post-primary schools in necessitous cases in 1936 was received by the Canterbury Education Board from the Education Department, yesterday. Further advice i stated that the Minister for Education, the Hon. P. Praser, had decided to reinstate the provision of free text-books for pupils in secondary schools.and district high schools and for full-time day pupils in technical high schools, whose parents or guardians were not in a position to provide books. Junior free places may be extended for an additional year for pupils at post-primary schools, who have not already held free places for more than two years and who failed to secure senior free places at the end of 1935. Senior free places may be extended to the end of the present year for pupils who will have attained the age of 19 years by the end of 1936. For extension* of either junior or senior free places, the parent or guardian of the pupil must prove to the satisfaction of the Director of Education that he is unable to jprovide the necessary fees for the tuition of his child after the i ,expiry of the free place. \ *« 'vThis is an important improvement," said the chairman, Mr C. S. Thompson, referring to the free place extensions. M ■ The had been in operation for some time, said the senior inspector, Mr. A. McNeil, The Minister was merely "confirming the arrangement, which was undoubtedly a very good thing.