SCHOOL AGE.

Temuka Leader, Issue 10362, 7 September 1922, Page 3

SCHOOL AGE.

An explanation was given by the Minister of Education why the provision,. authorising the' extension of the compulsory school age from fourteen to-,-fifteen years was not enforced. Mr Parr said there was iio absolute raising of age by the statute passed in 1920, but rather the' statute gfiye the, Government power to raise the age:■ when it thought fit. That-Bill was passed iu 1920, before the financial position had altered the whole outlook. Statistics indicated that the raising of the age Avould have ; meant catering for only another five or six thousand pupils in the elementary schools, in addition to the present number 'of 20,000. ft was not, however, all a question of accommodation and teachers. There was space in many of the schools, and .sufficient teachers were available. Rather -was* it the economic i situation which prevented the enforcement of the provision. The economic situation of the country in 1921 and this year, was such that the Government hesitated to mal; any. move in this direction which might create considerable hardship. Honourable members would agree that the time was inopportune for increasing the compulsory attendance age. ,