SCHOOLS CONTROL

Dominion, Volume 24, Issue 189, 8 May 1931, Page 11

SCHOOLS CONTROL

Management Unified

NAPIER AND NELSON

Steps are being taken by the Education Department to bring about co-ordin-ation of the control of the Nelson Boys’ and -Girls’ Colleges with the Nelson Technical College, and of the Napier Boys’ and Girls’ High Schools with the Napier Technical School, in accordance with the terms of the Finance Act passed shortly before the end of the emergency session of Parliament. Although opinions in the centres were secured by the Minister of Education before the decision to effect co-ordination was made, the move has been greeted with a certain amount of opposition, which ,is stated to be coming mainly from the technical school interests. The Act was passed by Parliament with little or no discussion, the Minister stating at the time that the step was being taken in the interests of both efficiency and economy. The alteration in the control will be concluded as soon as possible. It is intended that one governing body shall control the three schools in Napier and one governing body the three in Nelson. The whole internal control will be changed and the supervision will be more closely defined than in the past. It is considered that an excellent chance to try out the new plan was presented in Napier following the earthquake of February 3, and although the move had been contemplated before, it was pushed ahead when it was found that the damage to the school buildings would necessitate reconstruction. Where possible the practice is to be extended throughout the Dominion. The aim will be to have the technical and secondary schools in one compact area with probably one headmaster and a senior assistant who will be director of the technical division. Once the reorganisa tion has been completed at Nelson and Napier steps will be taken to effect similar changes in other centres.