EDUCATION PLAN

Waikato Times, Volume 132, Issue 22093, 17 July 1943, Page 5

EDUCATION PLAN

BRITISH REORGANISATION THREE TYPES OF SCHOOL AIMS OF NEW SYSTEM (Omr.la! Wireless) (Received July 17, 1 p.m.) RUGBY, July 16 The Minister of Education, Mr R. A. Butler, has presented a White Paper to Parliament proposing the complete reorganisation of public education. The plan includes the reorganisation of the present elementary schools, raising the school leaving age to 15 and later 16 ar.d compulsory provision for religious instruction. The plan will be brought into operation by stages and will fit into the general picture of social reconstruction. The recasting of public education involves the disappearance of the terms “elementary” and “higher” education and their replacement by primary, secondary and further education. Primary schools will be available to children up to 11 and secondary schools for children over 11. There will be three main types of secondary schools—grammar, modern and technical. Grammar schools will take the place of the present secondary schools and will continue to provide mainly academic education. The modem school will offer general education for life and will cover a wide range embracing literary and practical subjects. Technical schools will cater for technical students. “Special Places” Abolished “Special place” examinations will be abolished and children at the age of about 11 will be classified by the school records, and if necessary intelligence tests. Local authorities will be given power to establish boarding schools and hostels for children whose parents wish them to have residential education. An important part of the plan envisages compulsory part-time education between the ages of 15 and 13 at young people’s colleges. The curriculum covers physical training instruction, health hygiene and training in expression, together \ i education in the broad meaning of citizenship and its responsibilities. The colleges will become youth re - tres, taking a place in the expanded youth service.

An expansion of technical and advanced education is planned. It is proposed that for the inter-relation of different types of schools the-e will be one type of local odueat: i authority in the future. There v.-’i! ba councils of counties and coun.y boroughs only. Costs of System

“Rising costs generally and th-s development of services will have raised the total expenditures on education by the end of the v.-ar from the 1938 level of £94,000,000 to £123,000,000,” says the White Pape-. The latter figures have according l / been taken as the datum line in estimating the additional expenditure. No material increase is exoe terl until at least 18 months after end of the war. Thereafter the estimated additional cost will be £1,100,030. The major part of the additional cost will be borne by the Exchequer.”