EDUCATION BILL

Wairarapa Times-Age, 17 December 1943, Page 4

EDUCATION BILL

PUBLISHED IN BRITAIN FAR-REACHING REFORMS PROPOSED MANY IMPORTANT CHANGES (British Official Wireless.) (Received This Day, 10.25 a.m.) RUGBY, December 16. The text of the new Education Bill, the most comprehensive measure in the history of English education, has now been published. The second reading of the Bill will, take place soon after Parliament reassembles in the New Year. The Bill, which will supersede all existing Education Acts, includes all the changes proposed <in the White Paper of last July. They are broadly as follows: — (1) Reconstruction of the /rational system of education into primary, secondary and further stages. (2) Provision for nursery schools wherever they are needed. (3) Raising the school leaving age, first to lfi years and later to 16. (4) Completion of the reorganisation of the present elementary school, so that well-designed and equipped primary and secondary schools of a variety of types will be available, without tuition fees, to all children. (5) Amendment of the law to emphasise the position of religious instruction as an essential element in education and to enable schools provided by voluntary bodies to play their part in the -proposed developments. (6) Introduction of a system of compulsory part-time education, in working hours, for young persons up to 18 years of age. (7) Provision of adequate and properly co-ordinated facilities for technical and adult education. (8) Extension of existing facilities for securing the health and physical wellbeing of children and young persons. (9) Inspection and registration of all independent schools. (10) Adjustment of the present system of local education administration to a new educational layout.