Socred’s education policy

Press, 21 June 1984, Page 6

Socred’s education policy

By

OLIVER RIDDELL,

in Wellington

Social Credit’s education policy promises equality of opportunity and the promotion of diversity. The Education Department would be decentralised through community councils to allow greater regional involvement.

School committees would be given wider powers to make decisions, the depart-

ment acting in an advisory rather than directive role.

Regional education centres with research facilities would be established, based on present teachers’ colleges and community colleges.

Social Credit promised to promote pre-school teacher- « ratios of 1:15, and een 1:20 and 1:25 at primary and secondary schools, depending on the

level. A “certificate of attainment” would be established that was not based on passing or failing, but to be issued to each pupil as an individual document on leaving school. There would be a greater degree of internal assessment and a University En-trance-style examination that would replace present University Entrance, bursary, and scholarship examinations.