BRITISH SCHOOL LEAVING AGE

Press, Volume LXXXIII, Issue 25085, 17 January 1947, Page 7

BRITISH SCHOOL LEAVING AGE

RAISING MAY AGAIN BE POSTPONED LACK OF ACCOMMODATION AND LABOUR SHORTAGE (Special Correspondent N.Z.PA.) (Rec. 8 p.m.) LONDON, January 16. Suggestions are being made by some political correspondents that the Government may decide again to postpone the raising of the school leaving age to 15. This provision is part of the new Education Act passed m 1944. When the act was passed it was decided, in view of,war-time difficulties, to defer the raising of the school leaving age until April 1. 1947. The Government, confronted by a serious manpower shortage, now faces the fact that if this provision of the act is enforced it will decrease the labour supply by 370,000 juveniles. Moreover, shortages of both teachers and classroom accommodation are still serious, and the increase in the school population created by the new leaving age would cause further difficulties. It is considered probable that if it is again decided to defer the establishment of the new leaving age the Government will agree more on the ground of the shortage of teachers and accommodation than on the ground of the need for more manpower. The latter argument is certain to arouse strong opoosition, particularly in view of protests made by many Labour back-benchers when the change was first postponed in 1944. Even on the basis of classes of 40— which educationists admit to be too large—it is estimated that 10,000 extra teachers and at least 6000 extra classrooms are required if the 14 to 15-year-old pupils are to remain at school. However, this argument is likely to be countered by a recent official statement that the training of new teachers is already ahead of schedule and that the provision of huts for extra classroom accommodation is proceeding satisfactorily. The Cabinet has not yet decided the matter, but it is considered certain that it will receive attention in the preparation of a White Paper which is to be presented to Parliament in February.