DAYTIME TUITION OF APPRENTICES IS DISCUSSED

Greymouth Evening Star, 26 September 1947, Page 2

DAYTIME TUITION OF APPRENTICES IS DISCUSSED

(P.A.) WELLINGTON, This Day. “My personal view is that where any educational background has to be acquired by an apprentice, it should be in daytime,” said the commissioner of apprenticeship, Mr H. C. McQueen, addressing the Technical Education Association conference m Wellington yesterday. The introduction of this procedure was, however, strongly opposed by a number of employers. The main problems, he added, were lack of accommodation in the technical schools and the shortage of instructors. -These would be further aggravated if apprenticeship training was to continue with only one month’s holiday when teachers under present conditions received school holidays. However, despite the many problems, Mr McQueen added, ernployers and employees alike were ‘showing increasing interest. Under the legislation of 194 G it was possible for 21 apprenticeship committees to be set up and two had already been established and were co-operating with the Education Department. These committees would have to decide whether daylight training was desirable hnd practicable. They would also decide whether a practical test should be required of an apprentice before the completion of his apprenticeship. In passing the Apprenticeship Act, provision was made for daylight classes, said the Minister of Education, Mr Mason, addressing the conference. “It is clear that, whatever other organisations there may be which will concern themselves with the training of apprentices, the responsibility of most post-primary schools, and of the large technical schools in particular, will be greatly increased and it may be necessary to alter-the character of the day classes of some schools to a large degree.”