EDUCATION.

Dominion, Volume 1, Issue 216, 5 June 1908, Page 5

EDUCATION.

SCHOOL ATTENDANCE. An order prescribing tho form of certificates of exemption from school attendance appears in this week's "Gazette." Tho now regulation provides that a child may, after duo inquiry, bo granted a certificato of exemption for any of the following reasons 1. That tho distance which tho child (if under 10) would havo to walk to school is over two miles: 2. If in tho case of a child over 10 tho dist'anco to school is. over throe miles. , ■ 3. If the child i 3 under efficient and regular instruction (equal to that given 'in tho State schools) elsewhere. , , , . 4. If tho child is unable' to attend school on account of sickness, danger of infection,'infirmity,, or any other, legal cause. . - 5. If the road,by which the child has to travel is not sufficiently passable. 0. If the child has obtained a certificate of competency in tho Fifth (or higher) Standard. PRIVATE SCHOOLS. Where'it is desired that 10 or more children shall be exempted from attendance at a public school of any particular education district, in order to attend a private institution, a general certificato of exemption is to be forwarded to tho head master of that private institution. This form will certify that the Education Board>of tho district is satislied that efficient and regular instruction will bo given; the certificate shall be \good for a period of 12 months. , • INSPECTION AND EXAMINATION OF SCHOOLS.

Amended regulations with respect to tho inspection and examination of schools aro gazetted. Tho amendments (two) refer to certificates of proficiency and to tho list of subjects prescribed for the examination for frco places and scholarships. Certificates of proficiency aro (by an insertion in clause 19 of the regulations) defined as certificates of good attainment in subjects of the Sixth Standard. In the lists of subjects specified for the free placo and scholarship examina-, tion (clause G), chemistry is added to group 4. MANUAL AMD TECHNICAL EDUCATION. Clauses 25 and 36 of the regulations of March 23, 1308, referring to school classes, and special and associated classes in manual and technical instruction, have boon revoked by a special order in this week's " Gazette," and tho following regulations substituted I. SCHOOL CLASSES. Where special and appropriate provision lias been mado for the practical teaching of the subject specified, 10s. per annum will bo paid for each unit of tho average attendanco at the class, provided that instruction is given to pupils of such class for not less than 40 hours during tho school year. Wlioro the Minister is satisfied that "the circumstances warrant it, a payment of ss. may bo made for 20 hours; wlioro the ordinary staff of the school is unable to provide instruction 'in these subjects, payments of 15s. or 7s. 6d. per annum, as \ tho case may bo, may be mado for each unit of tho averago attendance, but after January 1, 1909, the rates of payment shall bo 12s.' 6d. ! and Gs. 3d. per annum respectively. Subject to the approval of tho Minister, instruction in dairy work may be combined with instruction in elementary agriculture, .provided that not loss than 20 hours' instruction in each subject is given to the class during the school year. Capitation in tho case of,,an approved class taking such combined instruction may ■ bo computed at tho rates prescribed in this clause, and in clause,27, (b), for classes receiving 20 hours' instruction, during tho year in dairy work and elementary agriculturo respectively.

11. "SPECIAL" AND "ASSOCIATED" CLASSES. Except in tlio caso of classes for teaclicrs or of classes conducted in country districts by itinerant instructors,;capitation shall not bo paid on account of any class which has not received regular instruction during a period of at least 10 weeks, and for at least 20 hours during tho year. No capitation will ho paid on account of any student for more than 800 hour attendances per annum for all subjects altogether. After January 1, WOO, payment shall not be made on account of any student taking a course of commercial instruction for moro than 400 hour attendances por annum for all subjects altogether.