HELPING THE STUDENT

Evening Post, Volume CXXIII, Issue 48, 26 February 1937, Page 8

HELPING THE STUDENT

In his today of the restoration of bursaries to university students the Minister of Education (Mr. Fraser) presents another instalment of the Government's "back to 1931" policy iri education. The curtailment of bursary privileges during the past four years has undoubtedly increased the difficulties of students, especially those from the country. To those who suffered the most from the regime of university economy the Minister now offers something over and above, what they had before, namely, boarding allowances up to a maximum of £30, in addition to the payment of tuition fees not exceeding £20 annually. The number of such boarding bursaries is fixed at 65. No exception can be taken to this measure of assistance to students who would otherwise be seriously handicapped, for it has always, since the initiation of the present education system in New i Zealand, been a cardinal principle !lhat the country dwcljcr should not be penalised by comparison with the people of the towns in the matter of education. This is still probably the best feature in our system. The Minister also announces 'cpnsiderable improvements in facilities for Maori boys and girls to receive post-primary education. This is in harmony with the decisions of the conference held last year, at the request of the Prime Minister, lo discuss the health1 and education of the Maori. The effect is a substantial increase in scholarships open to Maori children which should serve to help in the training of leaders for the advancement of the race. So far the policy of the Minister has been the restoration of the education system to the position it occupied before the depression enforced severe economies, together with a few such changes as the abolition of the proficiency examination. The main lask of overhauling our cosily education system and instituting such reforms, particularly in administration- and the whole post-primary section, as will give the country better value for the money, still faces the. Minister. A wide net, in the shape of questionnaires and other inquiries has been cast to secure the necessary information and the results in the Government's education proposals will be awaited with the keenest interest.