Conference to list priorities

Press, Volume CXII, Issue 32971, 18 July 1972, Page 2

Conference to list priorities

(New Zealand Press Association)

WELLINGTON, July 17.

Next month’s educational priorities conference in Wellington should have the most far-reaching impact on education in New Zealand since the Currie Commission of 10 years ago, said the Minister of Education (Mr Pickering) today.

It would review present policies, consider proposals for educational development, and evaluate priorities for the next 10 years in the light of economic resources likely to be allocated to education. Mr Pickering said its value could not be estimated too highly. TWO PHASES The conference will be in two phases. The first session will be held at Victoria University on August 12 and 16. Two papers will be discussed and issues arising from them will be studied by working parties before the second session, to be held in June, 1973. This session will concern itself with the considerations of the working parties, and a report will make recommendations on educational priorities. Mr Pickering said that one of the papers to be' discussed next month would be an Education Department report on present policies and issues. In the second paper the Advisory Council on Educational Planning will deal with development priorities as it sees them. This document is being written after study of more than 100 submissions on educational priorities received from teachers, educational bodies and members of the public. MANY INVITED Mr Pickering said that the conference would be widely representative of the many statutory bodies and organisations either directly interested in the education system itself or in its results. Invitations had gone to 114

organisations, selected members of the public, members of Parliament, and representatives of 10 Government departments.

The Advisory Council on Educational Planning, which had been involved with education priorities since its inception in 1969, was acting as steering committee for the conference.