TECHNICAL EDUCATION.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXIX, Issue 21224, 2 July 1932, Page 10

TECHNICAL EDUCATION.

LOWER EXAMINATION FEES.

HELP FOR APPRENTICES.

MORE BUSINESS PROMISED.

[iJY TSLEGEAni. —I'RESS ASSOCIATION. J WELLINGTON. Friday.

The decision of the Education Department to red aco tho fees charged to candidates sitting for examinations in technological subjects and to increase the number of bursaries to technical school candidates, was announced by tho Minister of Education, tho Hon. R. Masters, to-day. This policy, it is hoped, will encourage moro apprentices to qualify themselves in their particular trades and foster higher technical education. Mr. Masters said he realised that the prevailing depression in industry had mado it very difficult for many candidates to pay their fees for technological examinations. This tvpo of examination involved expensive practical tests of workmanship, special workshops and equipment, etc., with tho result that the fees charged were necessarily not as low as those of tho ordinary public school examinations. lie had therefore had under consideration the question of reducing the examination fees, thus encouraging apprentices to take theso particular examinations which, he felt sure, had an excellent effect on technical education throughout the Dominion. Tho value of this type of education, particularly in developing a high standard of craftsmanship, was never moro apparent than at the present time, when so many young tradesmen, through unemployment, had lost tho opportunity of developing their talents except through tho facilities provided by technical schools, said the Minister. Recognising the difficulties against which tho average candidate was labouring, especially tho difficulties brought about by part-time employment and unemployment, he had decided to reduce technological examination fees by 20 per cent. Ho hoped a larger number of apprentices would take advantage of tho undoubted benefits to be derived by securing a certificate of efficiency by means of technological examinations.

Tlie Minister also said ho had given consideration to the possibility of granting further encouragement to higher technical education by awarding a larger number of bursaries to technical school candidates than had been awarded in past years. Money for the purposo would be secured by reducing tha number of bursaries awarded to candidates on solely academic qualifications. At the present time over 1200 bursaries were held at university colleges, and lie found that comparatively few of them were held by students aiming to secure higher technical education. There was every reason, during this time of industrial difficulty, to encourage more attention to technical education of a higher type. In 1933-34. added \he Minister, it was proposed to increase tho agricultural bursaries by ten, making a tofal tenable of 17; architecture and art each by two, making a total of two in each case; engineering by five, making a total of seven; and home science by five, making a total of 14.