EDUCATION AFFAIRS

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXIII, Issue 22401, 23 April 1936, Page 14

EDUCATION AFFAIRS

CONFERENCE PROPOSED EXTENSION OF FREE PLACES A conference of representatives of education boards, to be opened by the Minister of Education, Hon. P. Eraser, to consider larger questions of educational administration and policy, is suggested, according to a telegram received at a meeting of the Auckland Education Heard yesterday from the secretary of the Education Boards' Association. The board gave its approval to the proposed conference being held from June 23 to 25.

The Education Department advised that the restriction on the extension of senior free places, which had been in force during the past four years, had now been removed, and that students of special merit might be recommended for an extension of thoir senior freo places for a fourth year by the principal of a technical school or class. Recommendations might be made in respect of the current year where students had completed their third year last December. Regarding a request from the Auckland Headmasters' Association that sewing materials for girls should be included in handwork supplies in order that material might be provided for pupils in indigent circumstances, the department advised that it would raise no objection to this course in respect of grants for handwork purposes. The matter of a grant was under consideration, but it could not yet be stated what sum would be allocated to the board. The board s accounts for the year ended December 31, 1935, were returned without tags by the AuditorGeneral. , „ 1 Approval was given by the Education Department to a request from settlers at Oparure. To Kuiti, that one-eighth of an acre of an unused portion of a school site be donated as the site for a public hall, provided the settlers met all expenses in connection ivfth tho matter.