REORGANISATION OF SCHOOLS

Press, Volume LXXII, Issue 21727, 9 March 1936, Page 10

REORGANISATION OF SCHOOLS

PROPOSAL FOR CONCENTRATION

AT BELFAST

Proposals for the reorganisation of educational facilities in the Kaiapoi Island, Kainga, Stewart’s Gully, Brooklands, Spencerville, and Ouruhia districts will be considered at a public meeting to be held at Belfast this evening. The most important proposal is that the education of the children in all these districts should be concentrated at the Belfast School, where the committee has been endeavouring to secure a new building. The present school consists of two buildings —the main school, which is 58 years old. and the infant school, which is a mile distant.

When the committee approached the present Minister for Education (the Hon. Peter Fraser) and the former Minister (the Hon. S. G. Smith) on the subject the opinion was expressed that the education of the various surrounding districts should be concentrated at the Belfast School, and the schools at Kaiapoi Island and Spencerville abolished.

The proposal would involve a _ scheme of transport for the children affected, about 33 at Kaiapoi Island and 16 at Spencerville, The children at Kainga and Stewart’s Gully are already transported to school, half to Spencerville and half to Kaiapoi Island. The new bridge 1 across the Waimakariri from Kaia- 1 poi Island at the back of the Belfast Hotel would facilitate transport for children in that area.