Manual teaching subjects

Press, 31 August 1985, Page 18

Manual teaching subjects

Sir, — Manual teachers of intermediate schools and manual training centres have never objected to teaching woodwork, metalwork, home economics and clothing to both boys and girls. However, attempting to teach all these specialist subjects to all pupils, as proposed by the Department of Education, from the commencement of 1986 would have resulted in the halving of time allocated to each in many intermediate schools and manual training centres because there are neither the teachers nor the resources to provide for all pupils where roll numbers are large. The facts are that two out of 11 intermediates teach the full 30 hours in each subject to each pupil each year. The quality of education must always be considered first, then equal opportunity for all boys and girls in each of the four specialist areas. There must therefore be a planned phasing in of all subjects for all children at intermediate school level. — Yours, etc., L. H. MARKWICK. August 29, 1985.