EDUCATING THE NATION

Dominion, Volume 9, Issue 2870, 7 September 1916, Page 6

EDUCATING THE NATION

IMPORTANT REPORT TO BRITISH BOARD OF EDUCATION

SCHOLARSHIPS

["The training of men and women, accord iug to their capacity, that they may serve the needs of the nation in tho manner for which they arc hest iitted."J

The above.is the object of a highly important series of recommendations set forth in an interim reporton tho subject of scholarships for higher education issued by the British Board of Education recently. The report is tho work of a consultative committee, appointed in 1913, under tho ship of the Right .Hon. A. H. Dyke Acland. Although appointed before the war, the committee's attention has Iwon ■ devoted specially to present and future needs of scieutific and technological education, proceedings on tho 'full terms of reference having been suspended. The main feature of the report is a recommendation that the Government should provide £329,500 annually for the purpose of strengthening tlio higher branches of selected secondary schools and for scholarships. In addition, a section of the committee recommends the expenditure of a sum of - £10,000 for tho extra expenses ,at Oxford and Cambridge. The following arc general principles recommended for tho consideration of the Board of Education and of authorities concerned with tho granting of scholarships: 1. That, in framing schemes for scholarships, the following ends be kept in view: .The. training of men and wo-, men according to their capacity. that they may serve tho of the nation in the manner for which they aro best fitted; the reward of merit arid tho encouragement of learning; and the provision of equal educational opportunity. Tho furtherance of industry, agriculture, and commerce being regarded as a principal need of the nation, and higher education as a. means to tin's end among others.

2. That for the'furtherance of higher' scientific and technological education scholarships from secondary schools to universities, and the higliest scientific and technical colleges be still accepted as the principal means. '■ ■ 3. Nevertheless that, as supplementary and subsidiary means to the same end, scholarships from secondary schools to senior technical schools and technical collets, from senior technical schools to universities and other places of higher, education, from evening classes and work-schools to technical colleges and universities bo also granted on a suitable scale. 4. That a certain proportion of scholarships .to places of higher education should be granted to candidates who, sliow merit under scientific ■ and mathematical tests alone, without any test of general education beyond ar. examination in the English language. 5. That the matriculation tests at the universities bo modified so as to admit to full university privileges scholars who, having obtained their trainirie by i>art-time or discontinuous instruction, hnve been selected by the tests indicated in recommendation 4, and are able to satisfy the university authorities that they are fit to take advantage of university, instruction in science or technology. Tho sum/of £320.600 for scholarships,' etc., mentioned above, is made up as follows:— For strengthening the-higher. £ . parts of selected secondary [schools '■'. '. '. 100,000 Fqr maintenance grants to scholars to enable them to receive higher secondary education from, 16 to 18 or 19 ... 90,000 For Government scholarships from secondary schools to £ho universities, etc., in scientific and technical subjects ... 67,500 Grants in aid to local authorii v ties- for scholarships to nni- . versities. from secondary schools .... : v .. 25,000 For scholarships from senior technical schools, etc., to universities 27,000 For prolongation of scholarships at the universities for training in research ..'.. 20,000 ■The committee point out that in proportion as the provision of higher secondary education is extended, improved, and used, the provision of scholarships by local authorities will need to be correspondingly increased, and they state, that tho provision of scholarships for women needs immediate increase. ■: A number of general conclusions are enumerated, covering a wide ground. The committee indicate, for example: "The necessity of drawing, by whatever means, the hotter talent from the rural districts, and from the rural labouring class for higher education," and state that, "having regard to the history of the past, and the probable course of events in tho future, wo do not think it desirable to rely upon tho local authorities for any considerable part of tho expense required for the purposes considered in this report. Progress in these matters should be rapid, and rapid progress can only be secured by a liberal provision of funds from na-. tional revenue. The investment will be, in our opinion, abundantly remunerative, and the more rapid the progress the greater, as well as the earlier, .will bo the Toturn. ... In this connection it may be noted that Government subsidies to universities in Germany amounted for the year 191213. to not less than £1,500,000. Similar subsidies in England and Wales to universities and university colleges were in 1913-14 only £265,000. We must be prepared after the war for a great increase in the cost of education, and not only of scientific and technological education, if wo arc to make [ good our shortcomings in the past."

On.the side of science and technology in relation to the industries and commerce of tho nation the greatest needs of the nation are ranged by the committee in order of practical priority as follows:— "The first need is the wider recognition, especially by employers, of tho benefits that can be obtained by the employment in industry, agriculture, and commerce, of men trained in science. "Secondly, tho most useful thing that can be done without any great increnso in the means at present at our disposal is to encourage research /in existing institutions after graduation. « "Given a limited amount of money available annually, the next need would be to assist existing institutions for training in science and technology, to enable them to improve their equipment, increase their staff, attract more highly qualified teachers, and introduce new subjects of study; and to establish new places of higher technical mid scientific instruction where needed. To brins existing institutions fully up to national need* a great cnoital sum and income would he required."