CLASSING WOOL

Press, Volume CVI, Issue 31107, 9 July 1966, Page 19

CLASSING WOOL

Victorian Move (Special Crspdt. N.Z.P A ) SYDNEY, July 8. Wool-classing is to be taught as part of the normal curriculum at some technical schools in country areas of Victoria next year. The move, announced by the Minister for Education, Mr J. S. Bloomfield, is in line with the Australian Wool Board’s efforts to raise the standard preparation of the wool clip and to attract trained people into the job. At present only two schools in the state provide woolclassing instruction to the standard of final certificate which is needed for registration as a classer by the Wool Board. Both these schools have long waiting lists from prospective student woolclassers and the new move was recommended by the Wool Advisory Council for Victorian technical schools. From February next year instruction will be extended to two regions, the Wimmera and Western district, and the northeast of Victoria. Woolclassing has been approved as an authorised intermediate subject in 1967 for Form IV, and a leaving subject for 1968 in form V. Instruction at that level will form only part of the course, and after leaving school students will have to go to the Gordon Institute of Technology or the Melbourne School of Textiles. The course will occupy four hours a week for two years or six months’ continuous work.