HIGHER BIRTH RATE MAKES MORE SCHOOL BUILDINGS MAHER OF GREAT URGENCY

Wanganui Chronicle, 21 September 1950, Page 4

HIGHER BIRTH RATE MAKES MORE SCHOOL BUILDINGS MAHER OF GREAT URGENCY

WELLINGTON, Last Night (I’.A.)—A problem of very great urgency facing the. Government, according to Ihe Minister of Education (Mr. Algie) is the provision of accommodation for pupils in both primary and post-primary schools.

In his annual report tabled in the House of Representatives today, .Mr Algie says that new primary schools of relatively large si/e will be needed in certain areas and new post-primary schools will have to be built in some of the suburban districts in both the North and South Islands.

Mr. Algie gives detailed figures showing how the increased number of births in recent years will affect school populations in the immediate future. The total number of public and Maori school enrolments of children aged five and upwards is estimated at 255,800 for 1950. 266,900 for 1951, 282,900 for 1952. 296,800 for 1953, and 308,100 for 1954. “If these additional pupils were to be accommodated in all public schools in proportion to the present enrolments, no great problems would arise.” says Mr Algie. “This is not the case,

however ,and new schools of relatively large size will be needed because of the shifts in population from locality to locality. Equipment and facilities for schools, and additional teachers will, also be needed." Mr Algie said that the Government faces an equally pressing situation in accommodating the steadily increasing number of post-primary pupils. He gives the estimated roll numbers for public post-primary schools as 48,400 in 1951, 50,300 in 1952, 52,800 in 1953. 56.700 in 1954, 60,900 in 1955, and 52,200 in 1956.

In the past, shortages of essential materials for schools have slowed down the rate of construction, but Mr. Algie says this should not prove to be quite so serious in the future. A large building programme lies ahead, however, and to complete it a fast rate of construction will have to be maintained if the schools are to be readv when they are actually needed.