50% MORE PUPILS

Gisborne Herald, Volume LXXV, Issue 22623, 28 April 1948, Page 6

50% MORE PUPILS

NEXT FIVE YEARS BIRTHRATE INCREASE SCHOOL BUILDING NEEDS (P.A.) AUCKLAND, April 27. The manner in which the high birthrate and the growing population were adding to the responsibilities of the education authorities in New Zealand as a whole and especially in the Auckland Province, were reviewed by the Minister of Education. Mr. T. H. Me Combs in opening the Auckland office of the Education Department at Newmarket. Me added that to some extent the opening of the branch was experimental and said that if it succeeded it would be helping the cause of education in the province. The Minister said that in the last few years the Dominion’s birthrate had increased considerably. In fewer than 24.000 children were bom, but last year there were 47.000. excluding Maoris. That meant that five years from now there would be enrolments 50 per cent bigger than this year's. It was known that there would be 30 per cent more children in primary schools in 1952 than there were today. "We will require over 2000 extra classrooms over the next five years." the Minister continued "That means more than four times the building rale attempted in the past if the classes are not to be increased. Thus it will be necessary to do everything possible to get the children housed by 1952 If the birthrate continues at the present rate there wilt be further problems. We nave set out to give the children of New Zealand equal educational op portunities and that, means good con ditions. good teachers and a good syllabus. We hope that what we are doing today may be the means of ini proving the education system.'