PUPILS LEAVE

Evening Post, Volume CXXIII, Issue 128, 1 June 1937, Page 10

PUPILS LEAVE

SCHOOL ROLLS DROP

EFFECT OF BREAK

The amount of work offering for juniors and the forced inactivity caused by the closing of schools and colleges has led to a decline in rolls in several cases. The Wellington Technical College has suffered most, probably because many of the pupils have been able to secure employment requiring some knowledge of handcraft.

The day roll of the college had dropped by 11 per cent., the director, Mr. R. G. Ridjing, stated today, the numbers attending falling .from 939 to 833. A large number of those leaving had obtained positions in the city and would not continue their studies. The decline was due mainly to boys securing work, and/unfortunately, many of them were between 14 and 15 years of age. There was a definite drop in those taking first-year engineering, and there was also a drop in those in their second year. A number taking the first-year art course had also left, and they would not be able to continue their studies at night school because they had not advanced far enough with their studies. Many of the boys who had completed their second' year would probably join, night school, and the roll was already increasing. The principal of Wellington College, Mr. W. A. Armour said that there had been some falling off in the roll, and he believed it was partly due to the long break. Before the college closed some of the pupils had stated that they would be leaving, and yesterday* the roll number had dropped by 26. That1 was between 3 and 4 per cent, of the roll, and it was probable that about half would have left in any case. ■ .... The .position is somewhat similar in the girls' colleges, and there has been a slight decline in the roll of several of the primary schools. However, it is considered probable that some of the pupils who have not resumed will return later. '