N.Z. EDUCATION SYSTEM

Greymouth Evening Star, 11 May 1945, Page 3

N.Z. EDUCATION SYSTEM

MINISTER’S REVIEW.

WELLINGTON, May 10.

The year 1944 had been most significant in education in New Zealand, particularly in the secondary field, said the Minister of Education (Mr. Mason), addressing the annual conference of the New Zealand oecond ary Schools’ Association. The findings of the post-primary committee had met with fairly complete agreement, and regulations were in tram to put them into effect, he said. The conference which had been hold in Chi.istchurch had served a valuable purpose. One outcome was that £lOOO nad been voted by the Government for refresher courses. He had seen the social studies course at work in Feilding, and was convinced of its value. He hoped other ‘similar courses would be arranged in the future. The year had brought satisfaction in the matter of salaries, said the Minister. Factors outside his control were responsible for the delay in improving the staffing of schools. The supply of tetchers was limited, but a committee was being set up to go into the question thoroughly. During the year tne accrediting system was started. Though the number of candidates in the first year was small, he had little fear for the future. Where no accrediting secondary school was sufficiently close to a pupil s secondary school, boarding bursaries had been awarded. _ A total of 159 had been made available in 1944,, ana 15 special science bursaries had also been awarded. The objective was the proper preparation of pupils for university study, and the responsibility was on the secondary schools. Because of the greater emphasis on science in modern life, and the wider programme undertaken by secondary schools, he had recommended special grants for equipment in science subjects, biology in particular. Secondary schools must serve a wider purpose than formerly, and they were facing their tasks with enthusiasm and vigour. The provision of adequate buildings was a difficulty. Secondary school rolls throughout the country had increased, and the raising of the school age had accentuated the problem. Prefabricated classrooms had given some relief, but they were also a temporary expedient, and measures were being taken to erect permanent buildings as soon as possible. A shortage of labour and materials, not money, was the main reason for the delay.

CONFERENCE DECI-SiONS.

WELLINGTON, May 10. Remits adopted at the annual conference of the New Zealand Secondary Schools’ Association included the following:— “That as local needs are best known to those working on the spot, plans for new schools or parts of schools should be submitted to the staffs of such schools for discussion and suggestion. “That the department be asked to provide an adequate annual grant to provide the necessary equipment for social studies. “That the school certificate examination paper in geography should be set to cover adequately all branches of the syllabus. “That the association, considers it unfair that a university scholarship candidate be put in the position of having to reduce his total from 2600 to 2400 by nominating the subject ir> which ho wishes his marks to bo reduced, and suggests that where necessary the onus be on Vne university to reduce the marks in the subject in which the candidate gained the lowest percentage. “That.in 'view of the increase in the cost of living and as the disparity between. emoluments for junior university scholarships and bursaries is too great, the value of the scholarships should be raised.

“That the numbers in Lhe inspectorate be increased, and its members carry out a maximum of advising and a minimum of inspecting. “That the association favours an adjustment giving better representation in mixed schools, to the interests of girls by more equitable distribution of senior staff positions between men and women.

’That it is highly desirable that no school, primary or post-primary should have more than 500 pupils, and that no class should contain more than 30 pupils.”