EDUCATIONAL COSTS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXV, Issue 19932, 28 April 1928, Page 12

EDUCATIONAL COSTS.

AUCKLAND CONTROVERSY. REPLY BY THE REGISTRAR. To the controversy on the comparative costs of secondary and university education another contribution was made yesterday bv Mr. M. Rocke O'Shea, registrar of the Auckland University College, in reply to observations by Mr. C. E. A. Tisdall, secretary of the Grammar Schools Board. Pleasure was expressed by Mr. O'Shea that Mr. Tisdall, as secretary of the board, had confirmed so fully the accuracy of the figures submitted by the registrar. Examination would show that his figures coincided with those in the registrar's report. The only difference between them was as to the proper basis'of calculation. Mr. Tisdall had used the roll-number at the beginning of the year; the registrar had submitted two sets of figures, based, firstly, on the average number, and, secondly, on the roll-number at the end of the year. In the college figures all students transferring were omitted; accordingly, the same should apply to the figures for the secondary schools. "The board's figures show the cost per student at the university was only 6s l£d greater than the cost of a secondary school boy or girl," added Mr. O'Shea. "JKven if we accept the figures and contentions of the board in their entirety, this small difference is quite astonishing and will ! convince most people that university education in this country is not receiving the recognition at the hands of the State which its importance merits. 'l'hat was the point of the return which was presented at the college council, and Mr. l'isdall's figures have fully supported it. "Regarding Mr. Tisdall's general remarks, he was, of course, quite wrong in suggesting that the college receives £10,500 in fees from students in addition to the figures shown in the return. 'I he major portion of that £10,500 is paid by the State and was included in the £l6 2s 3d, being the average cost to the State per student." Mr. O'Shea hoped the result of the discussion would be that the university colleges of New Zealand will get more liberal treatment in the futuje without in any way curtailing the efficiency of secondary education.