TECHNICAL COLLEGES.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 19970, 11 December 1926, Page 10

TECHNICAL COLLEGES.

PREFERENCE FOR EULL COURSES. THE MINISTER’S INTENTION. (Special to Daily Times.) AUCKLAND, December 10. The question whether a technical college should be open to trade and domestic science students alone was discussed at a meeting of the Technical College Board of Managers. A letter was read from the Hop. R A. Wright, Minister of Education* stating that at the beginning of the next school year preference was to be accorded those boys and girls seeking admission who intended taking full trade or domestic science courses. It was not proposed tnat those taking other courses should be transferred to other schools. They would be allowed to complete their studies. The Minister stated that about 60 per cent, of such students would be leaving at the end of the year. In any case the number remaining 'would not be very large. The Chairman (Mr H. S. W. King) said he could not agree with the instructions contained in the letter. As the legislation stood at present, if a boy or girl obtained a proficiency certificate the parents were entitled to send the child to any technical school if one were estab lished in the vicinity. Mr G. H. Furness said the technical schools were primarily established to fit boys for trades. They should, therefore, follow this idea as far as possible, and if the regulations were not in accord with it the matter should be referred to the Minister. The Principal (Mr C. J- Park) said he did not see how it was possible to give preference to scholarship holders, then to free place holders, and lastly to those desirous of entering trades. As far as they were concerned the object was to preserve an even development. It was decided to reply to the Minister stating that the board supported the idea of the instructions issued, tout that it was contrary to the existing regulations.