MAORI EDUCATION

Evening Post, Volume CXXIII, Issue 48, 26 February 1937, Page 6

MAORI EDUCATION

MORE SCHOLARSHIPS

TRAINING OF GIRLS

Under regulations gazetted last .night a larger number of junior scholarships will be available for Maori boys and girls attending Native schools. Maori i pupils at post primary schools are I also to be given other increased facilities under the same regulations. In 1936 the Prime Minister (the Hon. M. J. Savage) called a conference of all those intimately concerned with the health arid education of the Maori, including representatives of the Maoris. One of the conclusions arrived at was; that the.facilities for the post-primary-education of Maori boys ,and .girlsl, should be increased. Various avenues were explored and resolutions submitted for the consideration of the Government. The Minister of Education (the-Hon. P. Fraser) has approved of a substantial increase in' the number of junior scholarships available.for Maori boys and girls attending Native schools, and 174 of these' scholarships are now available, an' increase of 38. Junior scholarships' are tenable for two years at approved post-primary schools catering for the education of the Maori. In the case of "other than Native school" scholarships, which are available for Maori boys and girls attending public and private schools, the number has been increased from eight to 15 per annum. As these scholarships, are; tenable for,two years, the actual increase in the number of "other than Native school" scholar-ships-available is 1.4 (16 increased to 30).' AGRICULTURAL SCHOLARSHIPS. • Of agricultural scholarships, tenable for two years, the total number has been increased from four to 10, ' and provision has been made to ensure that those to whom such scholarships are awarded shall have completed a satisfactory two years' post-primary course. Similar facilities for the special training of .girls, in the form of nursing scholarships, have been approved by the Minister. Instead of proceeding to their training in hospitals after a two years' post-primary course, as has been the custom, provision is now made for the award'of five nursing scholarships annually which will provide a third and fourth year of postprimary education, at the conclusion of which the Maori girls will be admitted to hospitals as probationers. Mr. Fraser has approved also of the award of 35 continuation scholarships, tenable for two years by r Maori boys and girls who have satisfactorily completed a . two years' post-primary course. This provision makes it possible for the Maori boys and, girls, especially in remote districts, to receive an education from the primary school: to the university.