JUNIOR SCHOLARSHIPS

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXIII, Issue 19291, 1 April 1926, Page 13

JUNIOR SCHOLARSHIPS

most to secondary pupils. AGE REDUCTION SUGGESTED. A suggestion that the age of candidates for junior national scholarships should bo restricted to 13 years, instead of 14, as at present, and that the scholarships should he restricted entirely to primary school pupils, was considered by tho Auckland Education Board yesterday. The Nelson Education Board suggested the amendment of the regulations in tho direction indicated on the ground that the present system defeated the object for which the scholarships were instituted. They were intended to enable primary school pupils to continue their education at a secondary school. At, present it was only on rare occasions that a scholarship was obtained by a primary school child. The brighter pupils proceeded early to secondary schools, and after a year of secondary education sat for the scholarship in competition with primary school children. The chairman, Mr. A. Burns, said he thought that either the suggestion of the Nelson Board should he adopted or else that primarv and secondary school pupils should bo "divided into two separate grades. . Mr. G. Brownleee said he was in favour of restricting tho scholarships to primary school children, but thought the age limit should remain at 14 years, for the sake of country children, who frequently did not go to school until they were six years old. Mr. T. U. Wells said the matter was a Very important one, requiring careful consideration, and he moved that it be referred to tho Educational Institute. After discussion tho motion was carried.