RECORD ENROLMENT

Dominion, Volume 22, Issue 131, 27 February 1929, Page 12

RECORD ENROLMENT

AT TECHNICAL COLLEGE A record number of pupils have been enrolled at the Wellington Technical College for this year, reported the Director (Mr. J. H. Howell) at last night’s meeting of the Board of Governors. He said that the enrolment on February 15 was 808, as compared with 794 at the corresponding date in 1928. When it is borne in mind that as a result of the action of the Department more than 40 girls left the school last year to go to the Girls’ College or to private schools, many of whom would otherwise have been returning to school for this year, the numbers were larger than expected and constituted again a record. The pupils were distributed among the different courses as follows, the corresponding numbers for 1928 being shown in brackets:—Engineering, boys, 243 (207); building, boys, 158 (143); commercial, boys, 79 (61), girls 202 (258); total, 281 (319). Art, boys 48 (47), girls 16 (8); total, 65 (65). Home science, girls 61 (60). Totals, boys 529 (458), girls 279 (336); grand total, 808 (794). It would be noted, said Mr. Howell, that there was again a considerable increase in the number of boys taking industrial training, thus bearing out the experience of recent years. As the facilities afforded by the college were better known and employers generally came to look for preliminary vocational training before engaging apprentices, this side of the work was certain to expand. It was decided that as in the case of other trades, the Apprenticeship Committee be asked to act, together with a representative of the board, as an advisary committee for the plastering trade and to advise the board forthwith regarding the. course of instruction that should be followed by all plastering apprentices.

Advice was received from the Department of Education granting £53 for a heating unit and additional seating accommodation.