EDUCATIONAL EXPENDITURE.

Manawatu Herald, Volume L, Issue 4007, 8 October 1929, Page 2

EDUCATIONAL EXPENDITURE.

ARE WE GETTING VALUE FOR MONEY?

“Educational expenditure in this country” (says the Dominion) “has topped the four-million mark. No Government in these enlightened days would,stint expenditure in this vital department without risking the'displeasure of the eleetoirnte, At the same time it is permissible to ask whether the country is getting value, for what,.in proportion to its population, is a very large sum. The reply is that .we are not. The present weaknesses” of the system are largely due to the very large overhead expenditure in administration, resulting from an unnecessary multiplication of- the local boards. On the teaching side there Ts unnecessary and expensive dissipation of energy, with a consequent general weakening of gtfU deary, as the result of the three ‘ main sections of the system being. exclusivelv departmentalised.; “The problem upon which the Go-vernment.-ought to concentrate is how Jo obtain a better return from the expenditure. Under the present system important Working services are'starved while large sums are spent on administration. The whole svstem is a hotchpotch of additions •and extensions, resembling an an•cient building with . numerous an- \ Hexes and architectural compromises. What is wanted is a composite structure, with a central plan, and an intelligent and efficient grouping of its working derailments. These requirements are well known. Yet in spite of ;heir urgency, 'the Ilous'e has agreed the expenditure of quothev huge rote without making any attempt to emphasise them,” \ ' ' ’ ' I I .