COST OF EDUCATION.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXIV, Issue 19659, 10 June 1927, Page 12

COST OF EDUCATION.

REASONS FOR INCREASE. REVIEW BY THE MINISTER. THE NEED FOR ACCOMMODATION. [BY TELEGRAPH. —OWN CORRESPONDENT.] WELLINGTON. Thursday. Some of the reasons for tho increased expenditure on education during recent years were cited by tho Minister of Education, lion. R. A. Wright, in the course of his address, to the annual conference of the Council of Education yesterday. The Minister also touched on tho question of tho sizes of classes and the policy of acquiring sites to meet requirements. In 1916-17, said the Minister, the expenditure on education in tho Dominion was approximately £1,750,000. In 192122 it was £3,462,844, while for 1926-27 it would amount to about £3,903,000, which was an increase of about 140 per cent, over tho 10 years. " Tliero is no doubt," said Mr. Wright, " that some of our primary school classes are too large. That means more accommodation is needed in order to give relief. I have been anxious to try to conservo "the money voted by Parliament for education, without impairing efficiency, in order that some of theso reforms can be carried out. I am sure tho Government is not. anxious to cut down the education vote." Building programmes during the eight years since the war had contributed toward the increased expenditure. The amount, for buildings over that period was £3,600.000, or an average yearly expenditure of at least four or five times that prior to the war. Next, there had been a large expansion in post-primary schools. It was inevitable "that expenditure must increase in that direction. ■ Post-primary school pupils had increased from 9000 to 21,000 in 10 years, and that increase would continue. Another point to be remembered was tho tremendous increase in tho actual cost of building. What could be erected for £SOO in 19i4 now cost almost £IOOO. "As far as we have been able," said the Minister, " we have been pursuing a policy of acquiring land for school buddings ahead of requirements. We have been endeavouring, as well, to replace some of the old and worn-out buildings." The secondary school course of instruction required revision to meet the demand for more practical instruction which would have a more direct bearing on the life of tho pupil. Reverting to the size of classes, the Minister said it would be impossible to avoid t waste in salaries until tho increased accommodation necessary could be provided.