EDUCATION REPORT.

Hokitika Guardian, 18 August 1923, Page 1

EDUCATION REPORT.

OYKR £3,000,000 SPENT. TH F. PRIMAR Y STANDARD. WELLINGTON, Aug. I L New Zealand’s bill for education last year amounted to £2 Iks 9d per head ol population, of which 78 per cent was spent on primary education. The total payments made by the Education Department in the year amounted to £3,187,292, or L'310,081 less than in the previous year. Of the amount of reduction £'217,000 is accounted for by smaller expenditure on new buildings, £93,000 by reductions made in salaries and in the general cost of maintenance. Tn covering many phases of its activities the Education Department in its annual report, referring to the 214,000 children receiving primary education, states that as the great importance of correct classification of pupils is becoming more fully realised increased attention' is being given to the mailer by inspectors and teachers, with the result that a much broader view of the matter is now taken than formerly. There is a growing tendency to break away from the idea of one annual promotion for every child nml to mlvanco pupils when they arc lit. This loss rigid method of promotion doubtless means more work and trouble for teachers, but the gain to the pupils cannot be over-estimated. The yearly increase in the average weekly roll was 0307. An increase has taken place in the number of pupils in all classes, excepting preparatory, and where the numbers were actually smaller than in the preceding year. The large city schools account for the greater part of the increase, the schools of most of the smaller grade.-, having fewer, pupils ill the aggregate than in 1921. THE EDUCATION STANDARD.

Examination of pupils for promotion is left for the most part in the hands of teachers, inspectors of schools conducting only the examination on certificates of proficiency and competency. Inspectors of schools are appreciating the freedom from setting and marking the numerous tests of pupils’ progress, and are realising iliat they can give better service by devoting their time to observing methods of teaching, examining and criticising schemes and programmes of work, demonstrating methods of teaching, and advising teachers generally. The quulily of Standard Yf pupils’ work in English and arithmetic has caused the Department some concern since the work presented in these subjects m (lie junior national scholarship examination revealed considerable inaccuracy in arithmetical calculations, as well as a very poor knowledge of British history and elementary civics. The attention of teachers and inspectors has been drawn to these weaknesses, and improvement is confidently expected. The fact that 2"> per cent of primary school pupils left school without passing Standard V), is a matter of grave concern. There is a great improvement in the proportion of certificated teachers, which amounts to 78 per cent, of those employed in primary schools.

WAS TK IN SKCONJfAKV KDCCA TIOX. There tire 20.i2.j2 cliihlren in secondary schools. The report calls alllontioit to a serious phase of thin educational branch. The proportion of pupils leaving at tile end of the first year shows a regrettable increase, which ran he accounted for only by the financial depression of 1!J22. The proportion leaving at, flic end ol the second year was smaller than in the previous year, so that taking the two years together the results are approximately the same. The report states that one year spent at a secondary school, where a new course ol work is being entered upon.is practically useless and represents little more than waste of time and money. A slid higher proportion, 7.7 per cent, remain only one year in the secondary departments of district high schools. Iml as | lie course of work taken there is often more in the nature of a coping stone to the primary course the matter :s ma ipiitv s,, serious. Tin: ca.-e of technical high schools, where 20. A per cent of pupils leave at the ■lit the first year, calls for serious consideration. The whole matter is dominated by the age at which pupils begin their secondary course, which in New Zealand averages fourteen years, a till is considered t.i ho two years too old. The junior high school experiment in A.ilekland is hopefully metitj.aied as a possible solution of this difficulty. When the system is extended junior high schools will pro liable in some eases he attached to primary schools, and mi others te secondary schools. In the meantime water inquiries are being made as to the success ol various adaptations ol junior high schools in other countries. The Department is considering i re\ ision of the national scholar'lni system, with a view to expending the money involved more profitably. THC.'IIXK Ai. KDIXATIOX.

A decrease ill t lu- numbers ut those attending technical classes is due I* several causes, of which the principal are reduction in the number of centres „ w ing to noil-recognition of classes which did not enrol sufficient students to warrant their establishment in a time of Itiialteial stress, and suspension of the operation of the lOguluiioils requiring compulsory enendamos at evening technical classes in cmtaia centres'. Tito restrictions due to the necessity ior severe economy .m>> 1111 relaxed since the end of the year, but i, is not intended at present to make provision for compulsory attendance at evening classes, as the weight ol well informed opinion appears to he against it-Ss mintrodnetion. There are Dvlb-l students at technical schools.