THE EDUCATIONAL SYSTEM

Dominion, Volume 31, Issue 110, 3 February 1938, Page 10

THE EDUCATIONAL SYSTEM

'Changes Contemplated RAISING THE LEAVING AGE Amending Legislation Legislation dealing with the educational system is now in course of preparation, but whether it is dealt wuh during the Parliamentary session resuming on March 1 will be largely determined by the volume of business reauiring attention. With a legislative programme involving such important proposals as a scheme of national superannuation and a readjustment of the incidence of taxation it may not be possible to give an educational amendment the full consideration it deserves. However, the Minister of Education, Hon. P. Frasei, is anxious to have the legislation introduced at the coming session so that it can be referred to the Education Committee of the House of Representatives in order that educational authorities and interested parties might have an opportunity of making their representations in regard to it. In speeches he has made in Parliament and at recent public gatherings, Mr Fraser has indicated that he is in favour of the unification of educational administration." There is a probability that the amending legislation will make provision for the control by education boards of both primary and post-primary education. It is understood that the details involved in tins reform are being worked out. The Minister stated recently in an address at the Nightcaps District High School that he was hopeful that it would be possible to raise the school age to 15 years. Authority for the lifting of the age to 15 years by Order-in-Council is already contained in the Education Amendment Act, Which was passed in 1920, when Sir James Parr was Minister of Education. Up to the present time no step has been taken in this direction, but it is understood that Mr. Fraser is awaiting a report from the Education Department as to the amount of accommodation required for the increased number of pupils and the extra teachers needed to give effect to this reform. By the readmission of five-year-old children, which became effective on the reopening of the schools in 1936, the number of very young children attending primary schools has increased considerably. 'in 1936 over 15,000 children were admitted to the schools who would not have been there had the five-year-old bar not been removed. This factor, together with the desire of the Government to reduce the size of classes, has made necessary a large addition to the number of students admitted to the training colleges. The four colleges in the' Dominion were closed in 1934, but the following year those at Auckland and Christchurch were reopened, the colleges at Wellington and Dunedin remaining closed. These two colleges were opened by Mr. Fraser early in 1936. The official figures show there were 428 students in training in 1935, 1187 in 1936, and 1360 in 1937. Witli a view to helping to some extent in overcoming the shortage of teachers the Minister has decided this year that teachers, including married women, who in the ordinary course would not be employed at this stage of the school year, should be retained in the teaching service.j By this means it is hoped to reduce progressively the size of the classes at a faster pace than would otherwise be possible.