EDUCATION IN SOUTH AFRICA

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 79, Issue 29, 4 February 1935, Page 8

EDUCATION IN SOUTH AFRICA

SIR W. DALYMPLE’S VIEWS. JOHANNESBURG, Dec. 14. The abolition of free education after the compulsory limit for school attendance, and the lengthening of the secondary course to raise the standard of university entrance, were suggested by Sir William Dalrymple, chairman of the Council of Education of the Witwatersrand (Incorporated), at the annual general meeting in the Chamber of Commerce Board-room yesterday afternoon. “ The time is over-ripe for the reshaping of our secondary education,” said the chairman in presenting the syndivate’s annual report. “Conditions have changed radically since 1905, when this council took an active part in the establishment of secondary education in the Transvaal. Changed Position. “ At that time it was reasonably expected that the pupile in the high schools would complete the course and possibly proceed to a university. Today, with the proposed raising of compulsory education to Standard 8, or 16 years of age, the position is quite changed. On the one hand, the vast majority of the children on the Rand pursue the secondary course as an extension of their primary education; while, on the other hand, a larger proportion of pupils proceed to the university. There is thus good ground for drastic changes.

“ The most important of the changes would be concerned with distinguishing the pre-university course from the general secondary course; and with differentiating between the free education, which must accompany the introduction of compulsory education Io Standard 8, or IQ years of age, and the feepaying education which should accompany the later forms nf secondary education, particularly that which is directly preparatory to university education.