EXTENSION OF FREE PLACES

Dominion, Volume 30, Issue 130, 26 February 1937, Page 10

EXTENSION OF FREE PLACES

Post-Primary Schools

GRADING DETERMINED AS FROM MARCH 15

Important decisions regarding the grading of post-primary schools and free places in these schools were announced by the Minister of Education, Hon. P. Fraser, in an interview yesterday.

“Usually the grades of secondary, technical and combined schools, of the secondary departments of district high schools, and of intermediate schools and departments are determined by the roll-numbers on March 1,” the Minister said. “This year, however, as most schools are reopening on that date it is quite unsuitable for determining the grade of the school, and it has been decided to substitute March 15 for the usual date, except in the case of schools opening later than March 1. In these cases the grade of the school will be determined by the roll-number ou the fourteenth day after that on which the school reopens.

“It is possible that in some cases, owing to pupils finding positions, the grade of a school may have been affected adversely by the delay in the opening. No general relaxation of the staffing regulations will, however, be made, but each case will be considered on Its merits, if, after March 15, application for favourable consideration Is made to the department. “It has been decided, too, to continue the concessions that have been granted to fee paying pupils in all types of Government post-primary schools for the past six years.

“In view of the fact that a number of parents are not in a position to pay fees, approval has been given of the extension of junior free places for an additional year in the ease of those pupils who failed to secure senior free places at the end of 1936, and also of the extension of senior free places beyond the end of the year in which the holders attain the age of nineteen years, provided that in the case of both junior and senior free place extensions the parent of the pupil proves to the satisfaction of the Director of Education that he is unable to provide the necessary fees for the tuition of his child after the expiry of his free place. “Except under very special circumstances no consideration will be given to any application for the concession if it is not made within a month after the reopening of the school. Parents will be expected In the first instance to apply to the principal of the school.”