EDUCATION AMENDMENT BILL.

Dominion, Volume 1, Issue 38, 8 November 1907, Page 7

EDUCATION AMENDMENT BILL.

NATIONAL SCHOLARSHIPS. Tho Education Act Amendment Bill, v.hich has 'been introduced by tho Hon. G. Fowlds, makes now provisions regarding national scholarships, and proposes a number of amendments to the Education Act, 1904. ' The apportionment of junior, national scholarships to tho soveral educational districts is to bo on tho basis of one to overy 4000 children in avorage attendance, instead of 5000 as at present. Theso scholarships are to bo awarded on the. basis of tho sixth standard examinations, not tho .fifth, as is now tho ease; and tho, restriction which prevented moro than ono scholarship going, to any school is to bo abolished. Tho restric-. tion of tho total number of'junior.scholarships to 31 ,per annum is also to bo abandoned. The age limit is to bo fourteen years.. Tho provisions regarding senior - national scholarships are . completely remodelled. Senior scholarships not exceeding 20 shall bo awarded- annually on the result of the junior scholarship examination of tho University of New Zealand. Candidates must bo under 19 years of age. The scholarship shall bo £20 a year for three years, plus University tuition fees. Succes'sful candidates must matriculate within three months afterward of scholarships, and must study' at tho University. Tho passing of ono section of tho 8.A., 8.50., or LL.B. examination at the end of the second year after matriculation shall bo a condition of retaining the scholarship, but'students in scienco may bo exempted • from this provision. Tho senior scholarship shall not bo tonablo with a junior university scholarship or any scholarship which, with the senior national scholarship, oxceeds£Bo a year. The senior and junior national scholarships will suporsedo tho Queen's scholarships awarded under tho Victoria College Act,

'District high schools are to provido free places according to regulations. Native schools a):e brought under the truancy provisions of the Act of 1904. Tho ■compulsory education of defective and epileptic children is provided for in tho same manner as that of blind and deaf children.