CRITICISM OF EDUCATION

Press, Volume XCVII, Issue 28514, 18 February 1958, Page 19

CRITICISM OF EDUCATION

Master Plumbers’ Conference

(New Zealand Press Association) DUNEDIN, February 17.

The modern “play as you learn” education may not be giving sufficient grounding in fundamental subjects, the president of the New Zealand Master Plumbers’ Association, Mr A. T. Wallis (Palmerston Nprth), said in Dunedin today. He was giving his presidential address at the opening of the second annual meeting of the association.

The education system could be responsible for the low percentage of passes in last year’s apprenticeship examinations, he said. It had been the lowest percentage ever. “Our new Minister of Education is a man of long personal experience in the teaching profession and we should look to him to setf that the education of our young people is carried out in the most efficient method.” It was regrettable that the new Government should have imposed a blanket reduction on imports of essential building materials, said Mr Wallis. “New Zealand manufacturers have not at present sufficient potential output to supply the demands of the building industry, and this will cause disruption and delays, and result in higher costs for the homes and buildings so urgently needed,” he said.