THE SCHOOL AGE

Hokitika Guardian, 18 May 1937, Page 6

THE SCHOOL AGE

RAISED TO FIFTEEN YEARS. MINISTER’S ANNOUNCEMENT, (Per Press Association-Copyright) WELLINGTON, May 17. The announcement that the school age was to be raised to fit teen years, was made by tile Minister of Education (Hon P. Fraser), when addressing the annual conference of the New Zea-' land Educational Institute to-day. The Minister said that there was no difference of opinion regarding the question of raising the school age. The only difficulty was that of accommodation on one hand, and of. staffing the schools on the other. These matters were ■ beirig considered at the present time, and, as soon as it is possible, the school age will be raised to fifteen years. And, that, he said, would not be the end, because for a number of reasons,—the return of prosperity, the iniprovemet in economic conditions generally, the demand for boy and gill labour,—the question had brqught with it some very serious problems. It is quite futile for the Government to extend the benefits of education and the possibility of further education if the child were to be allowed prematurely to enter the field of .industry. That question was receiving the closest attention, and, though he considered this aspect of the position was being exaggerated ;a little, he thought it quite possible that certain industrial legislation, passed with the intention of improving matters, might be responsible. - For instance, said Mr Fraser, the ? basic wage legislation left to the Arbitration Court the fixing of the age, and the Court fixed it as 21 years. “It is quite possible,” said Mr Fra?or, that in some instances, when boys and girls remain at school for a parti cular period, and then enter some profession or industry at 21, they cannot <rive service commensurate with the basic wage. The difficulties arising from that fact will have to be adjusted.’ Mr Eraser said that the object of every educationalist must be to give boys and girls every opportunity of getting the best possible education right through from the kindergarten tp the post-primary schools and the university. The Minister concluded with a reference to the,increased vote for education. ’ He said that the Government was . determined to find the money necessary for education, and to see it was used to the best possible advantage. Its programme would be carried out as speedily as possible.