Cuts in class sizes planned

Press, Volume CXIII, Issue 33154, 19 February 1973, Page 2

Cuts in class sizes planned

New Zealand Press Association t AUCKLAND, February 18. By 1975 he confidently expected no primer and standard one class to have more than 35 pupils, the Minister of Education (Mr Amos) told members of the national executive of the ParentTeacher Associations in Auckland at the week-end.

In his first meeting as Minister with the executive, Mr Amos bad been asked to give the Labour time-table for implementing its election manifesto on education. The president of the associations (Mr M. Browne) said many of the points in the manifesto had been sought by parents for years,

and they were anxious to see them implemented. Questioned about reductions in class sizes, Mr, Amos said some primer and standard one classes would be reduced to 20 pupils to a teacher. But these would be in the areas of greatest need, and would depend on the availability of teachers and' classrooms. The Minister said his first building priority was the replacement of “shocking pre-! tabs.” These could be quickly phased out by the use of por- I table classrooms of a superior type. A little later would come remodelling of existing class- i rooms, to give all schools; adequate classrooms.

But because of the run-, down in the building trade! this objective might not be achieved by 1975. Mr Amos told the execu-, tive that educational tele-! vision would be “off the ground” this year. Initially there would be pilot programmes only. If the experiments proved successful, national educational television could come within! a year. Both primary and secondary schools would par-! tjcipate in the pilot scheme.

FIREWORKS.— -Any moves to restrict fireworks sales to; seven days before November. 5 would be supported by thei national executive of the! Parent-Teachers’ Association, the president (Mr M. Browne) said yesterday in Auckland.— (PA.)