CONTINUATION CLASSES

Evening Post, Volume CV, Issue 81, 5 April 1923, Page 8

CONTINUATION CLASSES

ASSISTING DESERVING YOUTHS.

Amongst the minor retrenchments effected last year was one in connection with ' technical classes in the smaller country centres. The Education Department being Under- the impression that many of these classes were costing more than they were worth as educational factors, mads a regulation which I'equired that there must be 18 pupils as a minimum number for continuation subjects, such as English and. Arithmetic, which, are taken by boys and girls who have left the primary schools and are at work. The classes are evening' classes. A further limitation of 18 years of age was fixed. Representations have been made to the Minister of Education, the Hon. C. J. Parr, that, a's a result of this 1 minimum requirement as to numbers, some of the classes were discontinued. In order to give more facilities 'the- Department now announces that the minimum number for the continuation classes shall be 15 pupils, and.the age restriction has been removed; and for technical'classes, 9 pupils offering; will be sufficient. This alteration will affect places like Gore. Cambridge, Te Aroha, etc This liberalising of educational facilities will, it is considered, meet the cases of. many deserving young people in the smaller centres, who has merely got a sixth standard certificate and who are not able to attend high sqhopls. The Department did not wish to deprive these young people of their only chance of .prosecuting their education further. Indeed, the Minister has intimated that the limitation to 15 pupils will not be peremptorily observed in cases where a slightly lower, number only are able to attend. It may be explained that the number refered to is necessary in order to enable the local managers to draw capitation from the Government which capitation assists in paying the teaohers.