THE SCHOOL YEAR

Evening Post, Volume CXXXV, Issue 28, 3 February 1943, Page 5

THE SCHOOL YEAR

ENROLMENTS INCREASE

STATIONERY PROBLEM

A feature of the school year which has just begun is the increase in the number of pupils. This applies particularly to the secondary schools.' The roll at Wellington Boys' College,1 for instance, is in the vicinity of 680,! which is back to 1938 figures, andi enrolments at the other colleges, both,! boys' and girls', also show a marked! increase. Exact, figures are not avail-! able~ yet; it is .the roll: totals as ats March 1 each year that count in the! schools'grading. The increase in secondary .school1 'enrolments does not appear to be con 4 fined solely to Wellington. Other centres report an increase, top, and many schools and colleges with boarding establishments are finding their accommodation fully taxed. Private schools, too, in many cases have an' increased number of pupils this year* The staffs of all schools, both primary and secondary, have been affected by th,e war, and there have been many changes. Owing to the shortage ofmale teachers, more women teachers are in evidence than formerly,' but the staffing problem still remains acute,being temporarily solved by teachers having to take larger classes. A problem facing school commit* tees-is the provision of school sta<4 tionery. The standardisation of exer-' cisc books and other school requisites" has resulted in a distinct shortage of supplies. It is expected, however, that the position will shortly improve,! but in the meantime stationers who have exercise books for sale are strict* ly rationing the number they allow each purchaser.