BRITISH EDUCATION

Evening Post, Volume CXXXVI, Issue 16, 19 July 1943, Page 4

BRITISH EDUCATION

PROPOSED PLAN

RUGBY, July 17,

The Minister of Education, Mr. R. S.Butler, has presented a White Paper to Parliament proposing the complete reorganisation of public education. This includes the reorganisation of the present elementary schools, the raising of the school-leaving age to 15 and later 16, and compulsory provision for religious instruction. The plan is to be brought into operation by stages and will fit into the general picture of social* reconstruction.

The recasting of public education involves the disappearance of the terms "elementary" and "higher" education and the replacement by "primary, "secondary," and "further" education. Primary schools will be available to children up to 11 years of age, secondary schools for children over 11. There will be three main types of secondary schools—grammar, modern, and technical. Grammar schools will take the place of the present secondary schools and continue to provide a mainly academic education. Modern schools will', offer'a general education for life and cover a wide range, embracing the literary and the practical. Technical schools will cater for technical students.

CLASSIFICATION BY RECORDS.

"Special place" examinations will be abolished and children at the age of about 11 will be classified by their school records and, if necessary, by intelligence tests. Local authorities will be given power to establish " boarding" schools and hostels' for children whose parents wish them ;to have residential education.

An important part of the plan envisages compulsory part-time education between the .ages of 15 and 18 at young people's colleges. The attendance hours at first will be limited to : a day weekly, or its equivalent. The curriculum will cover physical, training, instruction in health hygiene, and training in expression, together with education in. the broad .meaning of citizenship and its responsibilities. The colleges will become youth centres, taking a place in an expanded youth service. The expansion of technical and advanced education is planned.

INCREASED COSTS.

It is proposed that, for interrelation of different types of schools, there shall be one type of local education authority in future. There will be councils of counties and county boroughs only. . The White Paper adds: "Rising costs generally and the development of services will have raised the total expenditure on education by the end of the war from the 1938 level of £94,000,000 to £123,000,000. The latter figure accordingly has been taken as a datum line in estimating the additional expenditure. No material increase is expected until at least 18 months, after the end of the war. The major part of the additional cost will be borne by the Exchequer.—B.O.W: