THE YEARS-AFTER SCHOOL

Dominion, Volume 10, Issue 3161, 13 August 1917, Page 6

THE YEARS - AFTER SCHOOL

STATEMENT BY THE MINISTER; An interesting statement on the question of encouraging the attendance of boys at teclmioal classes after leaving school without passing the sixth standard was made by the Hon. J. A. Hanan (Minister of Education), in reply to a question by Mr. XI. A. Wright. "From returns furnished by education boards (said the Minister), it appears that about half of the pupils who left the primary schools during 1915 did not continue their education last year, and that of these about 75 per cent, reached the age of fourteen years without having passed Standard VI, and consjequently left the primary-school without a certificate qualifying them for further free education. It is not improbable that among these pupils would be found a considerable number who, if given opportunities fjr further free education of n. suitable character, would ultimately become worthy units in the ranks of the industrial'workers. With this object \n view I have recently issued regulations amending those Telating to free postprimary education. The new "regulations provide for 'free classes' bearing on industrial (including agricultural and domestic) pursuits for pupils who have reached the ago of fourteen years without gaining a sixth standard certificate and are recommended therefor by an inspector of schools.'"