THE EDUCATION QUESTION

Evening Post, Volume LXXIV, Issue 27, 31 July 1907, Page 4

THE EDUCATION QUESTION

At a recent Het Yolk Congress, Mr. Smuts (Colonial Secretary) explained the intention of the Government as already outlined in the Education Bill. The Bill accepted the principle that primary education should, be a Stato concern, free, with certain reservations, such as that of schools in remote districts, where capitation grants would be made in respect of schools consisting of not less than ten children, and where, in the case of primary schools, the school committees made a recommendation in regard to the payment of fees. The system of education would be compulsory up to 14 years of age, th 6 fourth standard being the standard of exemption. After referring to secondary schools, Mr. Smuts referred to tht medium of instruction. This, he said, would be in tho pupil's mother tongue up to the third standard. Where English was not the mother tongue, this would be gradually introduced and become "the medium of instruction. Where desired, Dutch would continue to be the medium of instruction in Bible lessons and_ two other subjects. As regards religious teaching, this would b3 confined to simple Bible lessons, which would be taught half-an-hour every day. The schools would open and close with prayer. No denominational teaching would be allowed. / Mr. Smuts explained the system of school control, which would be vested in school committees and district school boards, who would have power to make recommendations with regard to the appointment or dismissal of teachers, and th© Director of Education ; and, in the event of dispute, the Minister would decide. _Mr. Smuts pointed out that, as the Minister of Education was elected by the people, he was, of course, responsible to the people for his actions.