DAYLIGHT APPRENTICE CLASSES MAY BE HEAVY COST TO TECH. COLLEGE

Wanganui Chronicle, 28 April 1949, Page 4

DAYLIGHT APPRENTICE CLASSES MAY BE HEAVY COST TO TECH. COLLEGE

“For three years the Education Department has permitted us to retain the small fee collected from evening students. This has helped toward the cost that has occurred in the plumbing, welding and other classes,” said the principal, Mr J. Dash, at the monthly meeting of ‘he Wanganui Technical College Board of Managers last night.

This statement was made after Mr Dash had read information from the Education Department which stated that all apprentices attending daylight classes are to be regarded as free place students, rhe department also advised that a free place will extend to all apprentice classes either day or night or both and also when a student voluntarily supplements his day training by taking evening classes. Mr Dash added that the cost to the Technical College for the classes would be great. He thought that it was very unwise to delete these charges until the college knew that the free scheme would be able to work.

Now that apprentice classes will consist of three half-days of four hours each, the costs would be much greater than those when apprentices attended evening classes only, added Mr Dash. “If we are going to pay £BO a year for plumbing some other class is going to suffer." he said. The Education Department also notified that in order to promote for the smooth running of apprentice classes, boards were asked to refrain from making charges for materials unless the student look away for his own use an article of economic value. The new incidentals grant for technical and continuation classes is expected to provide increased revenue sufficient to meet all eosis •of material used for educational purposes. It is realised that some classes are much more expensive than others; but it is desirable that, the new grants be given a full trial before any adjustments are attempted. The department also stated that there may be many new situations to face in the first year or two of apprentice training, and rules cannot be provided in advance for all cases. The department will be giad to iiear of and discuss any difficulties. Mr Dash remarked that the costs for this year classes have been collected. but the position might become difficult in future years.