ABSTRACT
As a result of our consideration, we are of the opinion:—
That of recent years the national expenditure on Education has far exceeded what the country can at present afford. The cost of Elementary and Secondary Education per pupil has increased unreasonably. The incidence of cost has been transferred increasingly from the local Ratepayer to the Taxpayer, and this has had the serious effect of decreasing the financial responsibility of those who actually spend the money. The Board of Education Vote has since 1918/19 grown from £19 millions to £50 millions.
That children should not be taken into State-aided Schools until they have reached the age of 6.
That the cost of teaching must be brought down by the Local Authorities, and that the only way to effect this is to tell each Local Authority how much money it can have, and leave it to the Local Authority to reap thereafter the full benefit of any economies it may make, and we have suggested ways in which we think that such economies can be made. We are impressed by the position of impotence of the Board of Education in either controlling expenditure or effecting economies, once the policy has been determined. There is no doubt, on the other hand, that Local Authorities have been urged into expenditure upon a scale which they would not have contemplated if left free.
That the grants for Secondary Education are providing State-aided or free education to a class which can afford to pay an increased proportion or even the full cost of education, and that children whose mental capabilities do not justify this higher and much more costly education are receiving it. We wish to make it clear that we do not recommend any serious reduction in free Secondary Education, but suggest that it should be confined to children whose mental calibre justifies it and whose parents cannot afford to pay for it.
That as regards Higher Education generally and Scholarships, the expenditure is in excess of the nation's ability to pay, and must be reduced.
That the Estimates for the Board of Education for the year 1922/23 should be reduced from £50,600,000 to £34,500,000 (which is approaching twice the 1918/19 provision), a reduction of £16,100,000, which, with the automatic reductions in Scotland, will yield £18,000,000, and we recommend that whatever proportion of the reduced sum is to be paid to Local Authorities should be so allotted by the Board of Education that the vicious results of the percentage grant system shall be terminated forth-with.
That the question of Superannuation of Teachers should be examined, and we suggest that this should be put upon a contributory basis. We view with alarm the liability under this head which is accruing, and which, we are told, may well amount ultimately to £12 millions per annum.
