THE NEW EDUCATION BILL.

Tuapeka Times, Volume III, Issue 186, 31 August 1871, Page 5

THE NEW EDUCATION BILL.

Ths following is a summary of the provisions of the above Bill : —

A Cabinet Minister is to appointed Minister of Education, who will have the superintendaxice and control of matters relating to public instruction. Every province is to be an Educational District, with a Board composed of the Superintendent and Executive and five members elected by the Provincial Council from the inhabitants of the province. The powers and duties of the Boards and School Committees are almost the same as under the Otago Ordinance. Females are eligible for election on Committees, and may als» vote at elections of Committees. The Board is to elect teachers, who must be certificated by the Minister of Education. Provision is made for various schools, also for a Training College, and a competitive scholarship for pupil and other teachers. A school fee is to be paid, but destitute children may be exempted. Every child between seven and twelve years of age must attend school, if residing within two miles of one, unless exempted. The parents of children not at school, and not legally exempted, will be liable to a penalty of 40s. from week to week. The Governor may empower Committees to borrow on an assignment of rates to defray cost of buildings, (tec, deficiencies to be made up by levying special rates. Two classes of public schools will be recognised, viz., Provincial Schools and Aided Schools. Both must conform to speceified conditions as to a strict conscience clause, inspection, and efficiency. In both secular instruction must be given consecu tively four hours daily, and religious instruction only at the opening or close of the school. The Provincial Schools are those maintained wholly by the Boards and School Committees. In them the Bible is to be r_ad daily at the opening or close of school, but no religious catechism of any particular sect is to be taught. The Aided Schools may be either within or without the school districts, and may be maintained by private individuals or associations. The Boards and the Governor may, at discretion, aid such schools if the conditions as to a public school are complied with. No grant will be given to any school in respect of religious instruction. All schools, and the educational department of all public institutions, must be regularly inspected. The Governor is to frame regulations for carrying out the provisions of the Act. Periodically reports are to be furnished by the teschers, School Committees, Education Boards, and Ministers of Education. If a Board fails to provide adequate school accommodation, the Minister of Education, on the complaint of the inhabitants or the report of the Inspector, may, after due enquiry, provide for the deficiency, and charge the co3t out of the Provincial capitation allowance. Reserves for education may be made in each province by the Governor or Superintendent under the Waste Lands Acts. Ail reserves so made or to be made to rest in the Board of the Province in which they are situated, and to be administered by the Board for the behoof of such province. The Act comes into operation on the Ist January, 1872.