EDUCATION.

Manawatu Herald, Volume XLIII, Issue 2238, 12 February 1921, Page 3

EDUCATION.

MODIFICATION OF PRIMARY

SYSTEM.

Wellington, Feb. 10

The inspectors’ conference adopt-, ed to-day Ihe report of the special committee appointed to consider a modification of primary education and surest suitable primary courses. The committee recommended that the primary course end when pupils reach approximately the standard of the present standard live, the primary course to be modified to permit pupils to renclj (hat standard generally about the age of 12, with special post-primary institutions for those not reaching standard five at the age of 14; that post-primary courses be provided at secondary schools, providing more or less academic courses of study for suitable pupils, or at high schools providing more general secondary courses, leading to the academic course, rural or agricultural course, industrial course, commercial course, or domestic course, or at special classes established in these high schools for the backward pupils referred to above. The committee recommended that the selection of pupils for these different courses he made by an inspector and the head teacher in consultation with the parent rather than by results of qualifying examinations.

It was also recommended tliaj dis (riot high schools or secondary departments with hostels attached he established in suitable centres to meet; the needs of: pupils in country districts. The committee recommended that no science, woodwork, cooking or advanced needlework be required in (be primary course, though handwork and nature study (including gardening) is to be continued. The changes are to he introduced very gradually, beginning next year in centres where the primary schools arc most overcrowded and also in existing district high school centres and efficiently conducted schools where a standard seven can be established. The commit lee emphasised that no secondary course should he closed to any boy or girl lilted to benefit by it.