TECHNICAL EDUCATION

Dominion, Volume 11, Issue 225, 11 June 1918, Page 3

TECHNICAL EDUCATION

COMPULSORY CONTINUATION CLASSES'. Whilst 'the Wellington Technical Collego is struggling along in widely straggling'premises all too small for'present requirements, local bodies throughout the Empire continue to press home tthe fact _t.nat the industrial future of the Empire ; very largely depends en the means taken to soundly educate out votfng men and women before they begin life's struggle.' ■ At yesterday's meeting of the Council of the Wellington Chamber of Commerce the following letter was received from the Napier Technical College:— "1 have to inform you that a joint meeting of the Napier Technical College Board of Managers and of the Hnwke's Bay Employers' Association was held on March 21, 1918, to discuss tecnnioal education, and the following resolution wns unanimously carried: 'That this board cordially invites the co-operation of chambers of commerce throughout the Dominion iu impressing upon the Government the heed for making adequate provis ; on for the development of tech"' cal education in -view of the intense strugglo for industrial and commercial supremacy that will follow' after the war.'. As you are aware, tho question is recoiving great attention in the Old Country, chiefly in the direction of introducing practical education into the schools a year or two earlier than is done at present, and of instituting compulsory continuation education up to tho ago of 18 years. The introduction of the scheme into England will require 30,000 new teachers, to say nothing of tho extrabuildings and equipment, while in New iZealaiid about 750 new teachers will be needed if similar propowfs are carried out here. Tho enlistment imd the training of these teachers and tlie question of accommodation for tho incensed number of pupils are matters which this country ! has not seriously concerned itself about."

In cordially supporting the above resolution members of the council referred to Hie unsatisfactory state of affairs in Wellington as far as lechniial education was concerned, and the necessity for adequate anci up-tq-date accommodation.