EDUCATION ADVANCE

Evening Star, Issue 23143, 17 December 1938, Page 16

EDUCATION ADVANCE

ENGLAND'S £2,000,D0D WEEKLY BILL GREAT EXTENSIONS OF AMENITIES (British Official Wireless.) Press Association—By Telegraph—CopyrighS RUGBY, December 16. (Received December 17, at noon.) Mr Here Belisha, speaking at the opening of an exhibition in the Roman. Catholic Convent School near Plymouth, said: “ Whatever apparent defeats human philosophies may undergo, they will triumph in the end' by the irresistible power of the spirit. All over England there are little retreats of religion and learning, and from them influences go out which strengthen, vitalise, and humanise the nation. They are the pride of all denominations, and this State has not only the wisdom to tolerate, but to encourage them. We are fortunate to live in a country which, although compelled to devote a high proportion of its resources—nearly a million pounds daily—to armaments, is spending this year nearly one hundred millions—nearly two' millions weekly—out of rates and taxes on education.

“ Our Estimates, indeed, this year are, with the single exception of 1921, the largest ever presented. More and better schools are being provided, classes have been reduced, opportunities for secondary education have been extended, school, medical services have been improved, arid schools meals service greatly increased; whereas in 1961 the total number of pupils in secondary schools was 411,309, the number rose in 1937 to 484,636. Some 193,000 children were admitted in 1931 without paying fees, compared with 225,000 in 1937. “ There have been an increase of 120 State scholarships to universities during the past two years.”