SCHOOL OPENING DATE

Press, Volume LXXXV, Issue 25713, 27 January 1949, Page 4

SCHOOL OPENING DATE

EXPLANATION GIVEN BY MINISTER

Some secondary school teachers in Christchurch contend that they are having a week less holiday than they believe themselves entitled to. According to the general regulations under the Education Act, the first term for secondary, technical, and combined schools shall begin on the Tuesday next after the first of February. Because February 1 this year falls on a Tuesday, they think secondary schools should open on February B.' In the New Zealand Education Gazette of August 16. 1948, the terms notices for 1949 were listed and it was there stated that the first term would begin on February 1. Teachers have therefore had several months in which to make representations about the matter if they wished to do so. No deputation of school teachers had approached him about changing the date of the schools’ opening, said the Minister of Education (Mr T. H. McCombs) last evening. No representations had been made to his office by teachers since the publication of the Gazette notice, so he assumed that teachers generally appreciated the fact that if they started the year later they would have a later finish. If the first term did not begin until February 8 the year would not close until December 21.

Under the present arrangement it was possible to synchronise secondary and primary school holidays, which would be to the advantage of parents. Mr McCombs said. That plan would be disturbed if the secondary school year were to start a week later.