Lowered Standard Of Trade Training: Scheme Criticised

Greymouth Evening Star, 5 October 1949, Page 5

Lowered Standard Of Trade Training: Scheme Criticised

WELLINGTON, This Day (P.A.). —The trade schools scheme of the Rehabilitation. Board has. lowered the average level of efficiency _ of trade experience, Mr R. G. Ridling, president of the New Zealand Technical Education Association told today’s annual meeting of the association.

. Saying that' he was concerned at the practice being followed in the schools, Mr Ridling added: “I believe that courses which cannot be filled by men who .are genuinely ,in need of rehabilitation are maintained by admitting men who want to change their occupation. If this be so and if it be allowed to continue then it will undermine apprenticeship completely. Will net young persons upon leaving school prefer to . work at highly paid, unskilled occupations till' they reach the age when they can be admitted to trade schools, also at [high wage rate?” asked Mr Ridling. I The accommodation and equipment I for technical education in New Zea- ! land was also criticised by Mr RidMr Ridling, who recently toured Britain and. the United States said, “we in New Zealand have no cause to be proud of the equipment . upon which instruction has to be given.” In most schools He saw abroad it was better, more modern and more extensive, added Mr Ridling.