Technical Education

Press, Volume CIII, Issue 30338, 14 January 1964, Page 10

Technical Education

Ten years ago, technical education in New Zealand was much the same as it was a quarter of a century earlier. Since then, many promising changes reflect the embarkation of this country on a programme of industrial growth. The latest is the decision of the Government to make separate provision in the Education vote for senior technical education, that is, for technical instruction beyond the high-school level This was recommended by the Commission on Education last year, along with proposals for better accommodation, staffing, and administration. It is only an accounting change but a necessary one for proper control of the State’s spending in this field, because expenditure in the past has been obscured under many different headings. The second proposal announced by the Minister of Education (Mr Kinsella) is the appointment of a committee of four officials to advise the Government on capital expenditure for the rapid expansion of all institutions for senior trade and technical training. This is an odd scheme. The proposal to spend more than £6 million accords with the requirements of the country; and its provision is good. But why should the Commissioner of Works and the Secretary to the

Treasury be appointed to do a job that should be the responsibility of the Council for Technical Education? This council, responsible to the Minister, was set up in 1958 and is representative of the organisations and offices most concerned with technical education. The Education Commission, commenting that the council was an attempt to provide a national authority that could survey broadly the needs of industry and commerce, noted that it lacked executive functions. Perhaps the Secretary to the Treasury and the Commissioner of Works will consult the council; but it should be done the other way round, with the council given powers similar to those of the University Grants Committee and consulting officials when necessary. The constitution of the council might have to be adjusted to ensure that the membership always includes enough persons of practical experience in technical education, representatives of the polytechnics, the technical institutes, and the Central Institute of Technology. Then the programme would be administered by persons genuinely interested in technical education, and the “ vigorous “ programme of technical “ building and technical “development”, as recommended by the commission, really would be vigorous.