EDUCATION SYSTEM.

Manawatu Standard, Volume LII, Issue 1, 1 December 1931, Page 8

EDUCATION SYSTEM.

PREMIER’S REPLY TO COMMENTS. Tho Prime Minister, Rt. Hon. G. W. Torbes, has replied to tlie comments ot tne New Zealand Educational institute upon lus recent election speech at ivangiora. “Tlie Government is anxious, ' he says, “that tlie young people should secure the greatest possible be lie m, from the educational taeiiities available, and hopes it will be possible to maintain the system at its present high standard. IT sufficient taxation is not forthcoming to maintain public services at their former level, retrenchment of some kind must be faced."

In reply to specific questions the Prime Minister says: “The Government will continue the policy of the -past, which has been to provide free post-primary education to all who are capable of benefiting by it. The proficiency examinations are being conducted in strict aecotdance with the regulations, and all the tests set are within the scope of the syllabus of instruction. There appears no reason to suppose that any child who is fit to benefit by secondary education will be debarred irom entering tlie secondary schools. “With regard.to tho closing of very many small schools, that is those with an attendance ot not more than live pupils in remote country districts, you are doubtless correct in saying that there are sufficient trained and certificated teachers to man all the household schools, but you are apparently not aware that such teaeners will not go to these remote places. There are 1 1 schools of this kind in the Dominion, and no lewer than 49 of them are taught by untrained and uncertiticated teachers. The .results secured by the department s system of tuition by correspondence are so highly satisfactory that it will be to the advantage ot the pupils in these remote schools to be taught by the skilled staff of the correspondence school. This type of teaching is not only more - efficient but, as you are aware, less costly.” With reference to the use of the word “frills,” Mr Forbes says that it was not intended to convey the impression that tiie various additions that had been made to the curriculum since 1878 were not desirable. They were desirable, and no country which could afford them should be without them. What lie (the Prime Minister) desired to convey was that the most essential features of primary and postprimary education should be the last to suffer if and when the state of the country’s finances forced the Government to reduce expenditure.