TECHNICAL EDUCATION

Dominion, Volume 10, Issue 3156, 7 August 1917, Page 7

TECHNICAL EDUCATION

AMENDED REGULATIONS

THE MAKING OF SKILLED TRADESMEN

Recent amendments made to the regulations for manual and technical instruction were explained yesterday by the Minister of Education Ulon. J. A. Ilanan), who 6aid that some of the ameudments were trade to agree with new secondary and high school regulations. One of the most important provisions was that whereby under certain conditions boys\and girls over 34 years of age, who have left the primary school not more than six months previously, and who have not obtained a standard VI certificate, qualifying for further free education, will be enabled to obtain free instruction. Such pupils will be required to take subjects bearing on a trade cr industry, including agriculture and domestic occupations, but t'rej attenda-noo at classes for commercial subjects •.rill not be allowed. Under this provision parents whose circumstances are such as to necessitate their sending their children out to work immediately they can leave school will be able to secure further free education for such children. Increased grants are provided to assist the finances of technical high schools. The finances of rural classes will also be improved, the latter being more costly to run than urban schools.

The Minister mentioned it was found that about 11,000 of the school children who enter standard II eAcli year reach the age of U years without passing standard VI, and of these about 3000 do not pass standard IV. Again, many who jiass standard VI are admittedly not Qualified to substantially benefit by a literary secondary course: "In tho past," said the Minister, "all the special education has been provided for those children who in any case have received the greatest benefit from the ordinary education; but these form a distinct minority of, our puipils. While we must still provide for tne advanced pupils, we must also do all we can to help the great majority who cannot or do not proceed to advanced education. These latter pupils are i often capable of becoming skilled tradsmen or mechanics if tlhey had suitable training. Thus their further training should not be neglected as soon as their 1 development ceases to follow the traditional educational course. Further, -we should by means of suitablo training give these young people n. distinct bias towards worlt in tbose industries on which tlie country so largely pends, and in which a workman or workwoman can find an for the highest intelligence and training." _ "As circumstances permit there will need to be an extension of continuation classes for boys and. girls who have left school, and who have entered upon a definite occupation. Experience m all parts of the world goes to show that continuation classes can never be successfully organised unless attendance is made compulsory. Th© T6comm6iid«itioTis mad© , this year by the Council of Education are also based on the view that continuation classes must, ho compulsory, and that in certain cases the classes should be held wholly or partly in the daytime. There should l>o no more difficulty in ensuring that every Tioy or girl after leaving school shall devote a few hours a week to secure efficient training in a life's occupation, than it is-to secure the devotion of the same amount cf tnne t'i rr.ilitary training."