Need For More Research On Education In N.Z.

Press, Volume C, Issue 29556, 4 July 1961, Page 8

Need For More Research On Education In N.Z.

(jv«w Zealand Press Association)

WELLINGTON, July 3. With its small population the fu’ure welfare of New i Zealand depended upon the level of development to which every individual in the community could be raised, said the Director of the New Zealand. Council for Educational Research. Mr G W. Parkyn, in an interview After a year abroad studying education and educational research. Mr Parkyn I said he had returned convinced tha/ the prosperity New Zealand had enjoyed during the present century had largely been built upon its rapid progress towards , universal schooling, both pri- | .-nary and secondary. j This point of view has been endorsed by economists. I who now regard education as an investment rather than aa an expense. “A major improvement in the quality of our people in the fu’ure will depend more upon improvements in the quality of schooling than upon the provision of more schools, now that nearly all our young people have the opportunity of going to both primary and secondary schools." Mr Parkyn said. Improvements in the quality ot education depended on giving teachers knowledge of the processes of teaching and learning, and upon the solution of problems of teaching and learning towards which much research was now being directed in many parts of the world. The Council for Educational Research should play a major part in each of these activities. Mr Parkyn considered, however, that the council has reached a critical turning point in its existence. It has to face the implications of certain changes in world education and either

make a major advance or become less effective as an agent in the educational progress of New Zeeland.

The council could not continue to do effective work along it* traditional lints without a roajoCt increase in its staff, its office space and equipment and its resources at books and periodicals. Mr Parkyn said the council needed a minimum income of £20.500 a year compared with the present income of £9300. To achieve this the present Government grant of £7OOO a year would need to be raised to nearly £lB.OOO. A plan for the re-organisa-tion of the council's activities to meet present-day needs had been worked out and, given Government approval, could greatly increase the council's contribution to the future development of New Zealand.