Training grant "inadequate ”

Press, Volume CXIV, Issue 33514, 20 April 1974, Page 14

Training grant "inadequate ”

The present Government manual training capitation grant for equipment, materials and operational costs for the teaching of such subjects as wood and metalwork, domestic science, clothing and science, was totally inadequate, the chairman of the general services committee of the Canterbury Education Board (.Mr R. A. Gibb) told members at a board meeting yesterday.

j “The grant was last increased in 1965. and is based |on the rate of 51.75 for each ’intermediate pupil who attends a manual training centre, plus an additional i 75c for those pupils taking metalwork instruction.” Mr Gibb said. ‘When the grant was increased in 1965 it was the firm statement of the ; i Department of Education at the time that pupil: should be asked to pay as little as possible to receive their manual training.” he said/ "It has always been intended that some contribution be made by the parents of pupils when elective models! Are made, but it has been ■advised that this should be ■'kept'to a minimum.” Despite applications by! ■ the board in the last few; I years when it was apparent

.that, because of drastic price increases, the current rate (was totally inadequate, the :board had failed in al! its attempts to gain an increase lin the present capitation grant, said Mr Gibb.

The hoard's annual accounts had shown a steady increase in the debit balance for the manual training account. and at the end of February, it was §7260 in the red. Even by keeping expenditure to the bare minimum for the rest of the ; year, the committee felt that a debit balance of almost §12,000 could be expected by February, 1975. When presenting the board’s annual accounts, the chairman fMr E. S. Ayers) said that with regard to the j investigation being made ’into the adequacy of the present manual training grant, the board had been most conservative in its ’handling of this grant, and i the review was well overdue.

Payments for the year excluding the main salary payments of S 18.4 m to teachers and other staff members, totalled an increase of $1.26m. and for comparative purposes, 52.55 m. more (47 per cent) than in 1970 Mr Ayers said.