Classrooms From Britain

Press, Volume CVI, Issue 31107, 9 July 1966, Page 3

Classrooms From Britain

(N.Z. Press Association) WELLINGTON, JulyS. The Education Department was considering importing two British portable schoolroom units—the latest type available—for study as a replacement for pre-fabricat-ed classrooms, the Minister of Education (Mr Kinsella) said in Parliament today.

Mr W. A. Fraser (Opp., St. Kilda) had said that at present there were 2389 prefabricated classrooms in use in New Zealand. “Our future children should not have to spend all their days in prefabricated schoolrooms and the sooner we decide on an acceptable relocatable classroom the better it will be for education,” he said. The House was debating the Public Expenditure Committee’s report. Mr H. J. Walker (Govt., St. Albans) said he wished to commend the efforts of parents in helping primary schools to provide small libraries for the children. Mr Walker said it was not at present the Education Department’s policy to provide full library facilities for primary schools and this interest from parents was a great help. It was pleasing that the department was making extra grants for heating and lighting facilities in southern schools, he said during discussion of the General Education and Administration Board’s report.

New schools were often too small to fulfill the needs of their areas the day they were opened, said Mr M. A. Connelly (Opp., Riccarton). Contracts for new schools should take into account the future needs of the area, he said. This would be less expensive in the long run than letting additional contracts for extensions. Mr ConnelTy said the subcommittee on which he served did not believe a pro-

posed move to replace education boards with education districts would be satisfactory. There was some friction and misunderstanding between boards and the Education Department, said Mr D. J. Carter (Govt., Raglan), who served on another subcommittee.

To try to apportion blame would be foolish, Mr Carter said. Some problems were attributed to red tape. The question of portable schoolroom units caused the

sub-committee concern, he said. It was an indictment of the educational system that some children had spent the greater portion of their school lives in sub-standard prefabricated classrooms, It recommended that a suitable portable classroom should be developed as soon as possible. Attention should also be given to providing library facilities for primary schools, particularly in country areas, Mr Carter said. The chairman of the sub-

committee, Mr J. Mathison (Opp., Avon) urged the Government to give serious consideration to the group’s recommendations. The Minister of Education (Mr Kinsella) said the recommendations would be very carefully examined during the next few months. Most were already being studied by the Education Department. The department would consider the suggested scheme for a competition for the design of student hostels, he said.