LEAVING PUPILS

Hokitika Guardian, 13 October 1932, Page 8

LEAVING PUPILS

primary school scholars. V. 24 PER CENT. FOR LAND. WELLINGTON, , October 11. An interesting analysis of the dest-n----ation of pupils leaving; the primary schools last year is given in the annual report of the Minister ,of Education, the Hon. R. Masters, which habeep presented in the House of Represenfativea.; .... , Children ..who. left school during \ the year numbered :.pf. .whom ’15,709, jr 78' per cent., had passed tlife Sixth'; standard. The number leaying was smaller, than fpr. .;§everal year : < padt/’ audi comprised., 10,547 boys and.”972T girls. Of the boys, 5604, or 53 per cent., commenced post-primary education; 2506, or 24 per cent., went into agricultural and pastoral occupations.;... and the , destination of 1115- is described simply a® '“.home.” One. hundred, and ewenty-nine became shop and . warehouse assistants, 54,, entered the., engineering trade, 59 entered the budding trade, 132 entered various other trades, h secured clerical, work, 500,.entered other occupations, and the destinations of 352 were not known.

•Of the girls, 4910 ) or 51 per cent.,

. —f to post-primary school’.; .3755, or 139 per cent., remained at., home • ,230 ' v.-.-vre engaged in agricultural..'end.; pare toral pursuits;l23- became , shop and ■n.eb.'.use assistants : 42 were engaged in clerical work 1m.30 e entered-> various .trades ; 346 were engaged in other..occupation®,; and ..the 4 destinations of 285 were pot ascertained.

COMMERCIAL OCCUPATIONS

The report states thlat the percentage ;of pupils wiho proceed to postprimary schools, ha® r for , some time been nearly constant at just over 50 p'ir 'i cent., . Gloat .. sehott.s continpe. : to i.how decreases in the, number,of pupils proceeding to commercial occupations npdsto trades; while, again .there is an increase in tfye. number baking up agricultural. apd pastoral occupations., “The wprjc'oC attempting to give some guidance to boys and! girls, leaving the iposbprimqry.. schools and desiring to take up . employment has been carried; on indefatigably by the special assistants approved in several of the largest schools,”: : A'ays the' report! ’ Many of the 1 avenues for employment .(have become,V-osed during this period of financial depression, and consequently the work of vocational guidance has been to some extent in abeyance, while tto» - of those who • had this; responsibility have been directed more Ut toward vocational is, the ‘finding of situations for the boys ! a- .d!girl's have left school. ‘

SENIOR FREE' PLACES.

“Atc thq beginning oh the'> year; the jGovertiment decided to - relax, the Regulations- goverhirig th© 1 award ‘Of senior free- places iin order that ’boys and. 'girls who . were reasonably i iwelic ■ qualified educationally 1 might,' -while they .were (waiting for- employment;. - occupy them.sdve* profitably in continuing -their • .>•>»*; ies in the : post-primary schools, pearly 500 youfig-people took-advan-/ tag© of'this .concession at the end of this year.... ( ‘iji, allir.the more / important' centres oyganisatjons? have sprung up with .’ the object'i ofei agisting . teachers ■: and- parents to find some sort of suitable -occupation for the boys and girls leaving s. total -In a llarge- number of instances lads ■ have, been placed-" on •.f'-vmss: In- a; great miany rcases,, however it wias impossible to find meht -for-the young .people, and. .loca-1 V jlijntary - organisations have; -endeav-q-'red to provide . useful part-time education in occupation centres.” : ***** r*r'-& ■'‘♦Jfy-