COST OF EDUCATION

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXII, Issue 22195, 23 August 1935, Page 15

COST OF EDUCATION

.Sir, —In your issue of August 20 there was published a comparison of the cost to the State of the various types of schools and colleges in _ New Zealand, as prepared by tho registrar of Auckland University College. Many of your readers, city men, parents, students and others must have perceived that the figures quoted, while no doubt true of the costs to the State of the respective types of schools and colleges, were presented in a manner that might easily mislead the public. There may have been no intention to do so, but as one who cordially wishes to see tho Auckland University College regarded with greater friendliness and respect, I submit that the committee to be set up to report on the unsatisfactory position of the college should consider all, the facts relating to the costs of teaching of the college students. These are not contained in the figures published, nor do those figures form a fair basis of comparison with primary and post-primary schools. To arrive at a basis of comparison, the figures are worthless unless tho number of teaching hours per annum is taken into account. Whereas pupils of primary schools are all taught about four Hundred half-days per annum, and of post-primary schools about three hundred and eighty half-days per nnntim, students of the University College attend for periods varying from one hour per week upwards in a teaching year of 28 weeks. The exact figures for the Auckland University. College aro ascertainable, and tho investigation committee would then have material that would throw some light on the problem. linfc this alone gives only part -of the facts that the public wish to know and the investigating committee should be given to consider. Whereas only an infinitesimal sum in school fees is added to the State's expenditure on primary and State post-primary schools, to the cost to the Government of university colleges must be added the contributions of the community by way of endowments, etc., and also\the substantial cost in lecture fees and examination fees to the students (or their parents) attending the University College. With this information concerning full per capita costs, the comparative table thus modi find would present a much truer picture, one tlmt would be fairer to the other types of schools nnd colleges, and one that would provide, I believe, food for reflection to anv committee or cffiincil having tho interests of university education at heart. Post-Primary.