SECONDARY ROLLS

Press, Volume CVII, Issue 31499, 13 October 1967, Page 20

SECONDARY ROLLS

Question For Department

A major question in secondary education is how many senior pupils will return to school next year because they have difficulty in securing satisfactory jobs, or because they realise the value of higher qualifications.

The Education Department’s southern regional office is planning to meet any eventuality. All centres have given an assurance that there will be a place for all new pupils but higher numbers staying on may present problems. After obtaining estimates from principals, the Education Department is planning to have up to 15 temporary classrooms available in Christchurch in February and up to 10 available in other South Island centres.

Some schools have already applied for temporary buildings and these will be erected in the summer. Others may not know their needs until schools open next year. The department plans to make quick provision where required. The temporary classrooms are in single or double-class units or specialist rooms. They are not prefabricated. They are usually erected on the site but are of a size which can be transported elsewhere. Some schools which get temporary classrooms will discard them fairly early when extra permanent accommodation already approved is ready.