FREE PLACES.

Thames Star, Volume LXV, Issue 19321, 31 January 1935, Page 3

FREE PLACES.

CONCESSIONS CONTINUED. Junior And Senior Pupils. UNCERTAIN PROSPECTS. STATEMENT BY MINISTER. (By Telegraph—Press Association;. WELLINGTON, Jan. 31. It has been announced by the Minister for Education, Mr. S. G. Smith, that it is intended to continue tnu concessions that have been granted to fee-paying pupils in all types' of State post-primary schools for the past five years. Mr. Smith pointed out that though the position with regard to., employment among young people had improved very distinctly during the past 12 months, there was, particularly in some districts, still a great deal of uncertainty as to their prospects of obtaining positions after leaving school. There were, unfortunately, many parents still in financial difficulty, and it had therefore been decided to continue for this year the concessions that have latterly been granted both to junior and senior pupils in secondary, technical and district high schools. The Minister had approved, therefore, of the extension of junior free places for an additional year for pupils at post-primary schools who had not already held free places for more than tyo years and who failed to secure senior free places at the end of 1934. Also an extension to the end of the present year of senior free places of pupils who will have attained the age of 19 during the year, provided that in the case of both junior and senior free place extensions the parent proves to the satisfaction of the Director of Education that he is unable to provide the necessary fees for the tuition of his child after the expiry of his free place. In the case of junior pupils, except under very special circumstances no consideration will be given to any application for the concession if it is not made within a month after the reopening of the school. Parents will be expected in the first instance to apply to the principals of the schools.