Dollar Scholars

Press, Volume CVI, Issue 31097, 28 June 1966, Page 3

Dollar Scholars

(N.Z. Press Association! WELLINGTON, June 27. New Zealand schools will teach in decimals from next February. The Education Department's officer for school mathematics, Mr J. Struthers, said today that the amount of mathematics taught involving 12 as a base figure would diminish from then, and after July no £ s d arithmetic would be used in schools.

The Decimal Currency Board would award certificates to “dollar scholars” from standard 1 to form 11. The certificates would be awarded to pupils passing educational tests on the new currency involving general knowledge and arithmetic.

Mr Struthers Mid most schools in New Zealand were already teaching decimals. But they would not be used in national examinations till next year.

Textbooks and teachers' manuals would be circulated before the end of the year, he said.

Primary and secondary school teachers had been given information on decimal currency from the board, and they were passing this on to pupils, he said.

The Education Department had asked the board for plastic coins to make pupils familiar with the new currency, he Mid. It was hoped the coins would have designs on them.