'Education expansion’

Press, 12 November 1981, Page 4

'Education expansion’

PA Auckland The National Party, which yesterday released its policy on education, predicted that today’s “information explosion” would mean a need for a modernised and expanded school curriculum in the future. The party said it would promote study in workshop technology, horticulture, fishing. and computer science. More teachers would be recruited, trained, and retrained to meet . those changes.

The party said it would continue to expand the number of pre-school centres and pay special attention to the needs of the handicapped and those with special learning difficulties. Pre-employment training programmes — “school to work” at post-primary schools and “pre-employ-ment” courses at technical institutes — would continue under a National Government. The policy said that further effort would be made to

foster an understanding and knowledge of the language and cultures of all groups of New Zealanders through the education system. The party is committed to the task of integrating church schools which wish to be integrated, it would also continue to provide State aid for schools wishing to remain independent. Adjustments to the tertiary assistance grant scheme to help students not living in university centres have also been promised by National.