EDUCATION SYSTEM

Manawatu Standard, Volume LVII, Issue 54, 3 February 1937, Page 8

EDUCATION SYSTEM

progressive policy. SURVEY BY MINISTER. WELLINGTON, Fein 2. A statement on the administration of New Zealand’s educational system and tile progress made since the present Government came into office was made by the Minister of Education (Hon. I. Fraser) yesterday. The Minister said that the Government was determined to promote the well-being of all young people, physically, mentally, and morally, by every means m its power, and give evorry child the opportunity to achieve the highest educational qualifications. “A vigorous policy of rebuilding of and additions to and establishment of new schools had been inaugurated, and considerably increased grants for maintenance have been made ii< order to overtake the arrears of work of this description which had been curtailed during the time of depression. The needs of the children even below school age have received attention, in the action taken in restoring the capitation grants made to enable the free kindergartens to carry on their work.

“The necessity for greater attention to dental hygiene has been met by arrangements tor training increased numbers of dental nurses who will be available later for work in the schools. To help in avoiding the evil results of malnutrition, inquiry is being made into the most suitable arrangements for supplying milk for school eliikiren, “Much attention has been given to the matter of conveyance. A number of •school huso* have been built in the railway workshops, or are in course of construction, tor use particularly in districts in which some difficulty has been iound in establishing services under private contract. “The claims for consideration ol the teachers in all classes of schools have been met and the Government s P 1 * 3mise full died by raising all salaries to the level that they were before 1931 by restoration of the ‘cut.’ “Additional facilities have been criven in the schools, in that handwoik materials have been supplied in the same quantities as were available before the curtailment in 1931; provision for needlework instruction in small schools has been restored; and grants for boys’ and girls’ agricultural clubs have been increased irom £3OO to £6OO. . , , .. “To the post-primary schools themselves certain additional advantages have been given—the grant for manual and science capitation has been restored to its former amount; free places can now be held for longer periods than formerly—i.e. ? until the end of the year in which the pupil reaches the age of 19, or, in spcial circumstances. beyond this age; free school season tickets are , now available up to the age of 20 (instead of up to the age of 19); free school hooks can now be provided for post-primary school pupils whose parents are unable to afford them. “Some additional assistance will be triven to private schools supplying the pupils free with ‘School Journals as in the public schools and also by arranging for the concession rates of purchase of radio sets to be made available for private schools. Considerable activity has been shown already by the Education Department in providing increased accommodation and improved school buildings for the education of Maori children, and it is intended that these activities will be continued and extended.”