TECHNICAL SCHOOLS.

Press, Volume LXI, Issue 18479, 5 September 1925, Page 9

TECHNICAL SCHOOLS.

CONFERENCE DISCUSSIONS. QUESTION OF FEES. . Reporting on the last annual technical conference to tho Christchurch Technical College Board of Governors last night, Mr McGregor "Wright, chairman of the Bpard, said: "The matter of fees to be charged to students in Technical Schools came prominently before the Conference, and the scale adopted for .recommendation to the Department. was very close to what is in force in our own school. At the same. time the Conference adopted a resolution expressing its support ox a policy of free technical education for all who show a genuine desire to take advantage of it. As it was stated by an official at the Conference that the proposed increase in fees would affect only a small number of students in any town, I should like to say that this was strongly rebutted by delegates. The evidence produced by one school showed that in the' large centres the number affected would be several hundreds, so that probably more than a thousand would be concerned throughout* the Dominion." Transference of Pupils. "The suggested transfer of commercial nupils from Technical High Schools to secondary schools was also found to have created a great deal of feeling iu most districts, and if it is persisted with can be expected to arouse very strong opposition, particularly on the grounds that it will seriously maim the Technical Schools without giving any advantages in the way of increased efficiency or economy. When the deputation met the Minister of Education, he promised that the suggested transfer would not be considered unt.il the Boards concerned had been given a full opportunity to 'discuss it, and to make representations regarding it." Proper Equipment Needed. "The need for more, equipment; particularly to enable advanced work to be done in technical courses, was stressed at the Conference, and in the deputation to the Minister. Our own experience of constant refusal of grants by the Department was not isolated, and the other large schools were found to have been cramped in their expansion in the same way as ours has been. We were able to point out to the Minister the small attendance of pupils in advanced courses after large attendances in the elementary classes, as being largelv due to lack of proper oquipnjenti, especially for advanced work.'