EDUCATION CHANGES

Waipa Post, Volume 41, Issue 3189, 16 August 1930, Page 5

EDUCATION CHANGES

DRASTIC RECOMMENDATIONS.

SEPARATE UNIVERSITIES FOR NORTH AND SOUTH ISLANDS.

WELLINGTON, Friday. An additional report on the education system of New Zealand has been prepared by a Select Committee of the House of Representatives, covering- ajhgsspetft of th 3 question beyond the primary stage. The report is so extensive that it is difficult to embody even the whole of the recommendations in a brief article. The outstanding one is that the University of New Zealand be disestablished and replaced by universities of Northern and Southern New Zealand, each unit including- the existing university colleges, agricultural colleges, research institutions, teachers' training colleges and the four city technical colleges. Those recommendations of the Select Committee on Education proposing a drastic reorganisation of University education are dealt with under a separate heading. Some of the leading suggestions in the report On other aspects are given below. An extensive section of the report deals with school leaving certificates and University entrance examinations. The committee sets out a system of individual record for each pupil following on the primary school course, and recommends that the University entrance examination be restricted to candidates who sign a statement of their intention to proceed to the University if successful in passing such examination. It is recommended that a University Schools Board of Studies be set up, comprising representatives of the University College, the Education Department and the public and registered non-State secondary schols, to consider all questions relating to secondary school studies, examinations, and certificates, and to advise the Universitly Councils and the Education Department thereon. The training of teachers is the subject of a number of recommendations, the chief of which is that the training colleges in the four centres be handed over to the control of the University College authorities, together with their buildings, equipment and staffs, and that the general lecturers so handed over be utilised to reduce the size of classes in the University arts and science departments.

TECHNICAL EDUCATION. The committee's proposals regarding technical education, which are very fully discussed in its report, are focussed into the following recommendations:— (a) That, subject to the changes in administration recommended, the existing boards of governors of the technical colleges be continued as technical college councils, together 3 T ith their associated apprenticeship and other committees. (b) That every effort be made to develop technical colleges as institutions for the higher technical education of adults and adolescents in employment, and for the training of apprentices. (c) That the schools of mines, at present under the control of the Department of mines, be transferred to the Education Departament, and their Work co-ordinated with that of the technical colleges. (d) That non-matriculated students of University colleges be transferred as far as is practicable to the technical colleges, with provision for the recognition of technical work done therein, in the event of students subsequently matriculating and desiring to proceed to degrees. (e) That in each of the four chief centres an approved number of members of the University College Council be appointed to the membership of the Technical College Council, and vice versa, and that a joint advisory committee be set up by both, councils to consider and advise upon matters of common interest.

(f) That the Universities of Northern and Southern New Zealand should each set up a faculty of technical education, to advise upon all applications by technical colleges for University recognition of courses and to arrange for the joint conduct of all a'echnogolgical examinations in New Zealand. GENERAL QUESTIONS.

+ Further important proposals of the committee include the following:—

That the present system of awarding University and other bursaries and allowances for higher education, including training college studentships be revised, and that the bursary system recommended be supplemented by the institution of a system of State financial assistance to deserving students, by way of either straight-out grants or loans, with or without interest, upon such repayment terms as may be deemed advisable according to the special circumstances involved. Each application for assistance should be endorsed with the recommendation of the superintendent of education of the district in which the applicant resides, or of the dean of the faculty within which the student is pursuing his studies, and should be considered upon its own merits. RELIGIOUS TEACHING. . That no system of religious instruction in State schools be authorised such us will compulsorily require any State teacher to disclose his or her religious beliefs or his or her adherence to any particular denominafcion4g?r ■■' U|K:O P ar * in -' e !ig' ous ex ~ erciK.ri oth/v than of his or own free free will; ;h;i that on the other hand the fullestlibcr-ty should be given to those teachers who desire, of their own accord, to assist in the Nelson or any similar system of religious instruction that may be authorised by law. That the medical examination of children be extended to include all primary and secondary school children in the Dominion, and that the training and duties of teachers be so arranged as to enable them to give adequate attention to the suitable physical education of children in cases where the medical examination discloses a need for such education. HOME WORK DISCOURAGED. In the opinion of the committee home work in primary schools should

not be necessary. It considers that in the primary schools the setting of home work in grammar and arithmetic should be prohibited, and that in all schools, post primary as well as primary, the imposition of home work should be reduced to a minimum. Corporal punishment should be reduced to a minimum, and a record be kept in all cases where it is inflicted.