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29 1930

VOCATIONAL EDUCATION ACT, 1930

PART III.

Continuation Education and Technical Education.

Duties generally of vocational education committees.

30. —It shall be the duty of every vocational education committee—

(a) to establish and maintain in accordance with this Act a suitable system of continuation education in its area and to provide for the progressive development of such system; and

(b) to supply or aid the supply in accordance with this Act of technical education in its area.

General schemes.

31. —(1) Every vocational education committee may, and if so required by the Minister shall, from time to time prepare and submit to the Minister a scheme setting forth the general policy of such committee in relation to continuation education and technical education respectively and showing the mode in which it proposes, in pursuance of such policy, to exercise and perform its powers and duties under this Act.

(2) In preparing a scheme under this section a vocational education committee shall consider all such representations as shall be made to it in relation to such scheme by persons resident in its area having interest and experience in educational matters, and by persons concerned in local manufactures, trades and industries, and by persons qualified to represent the views of employers and employees in matters of educational interest relating to such area.

General powers in relation to continuation education.

32. —In performance of the duties in relation to continuation education imposed on vocational education committees by this Act every such committee may do all or any of the following things, that is to say:—

(a) establish and maintain continuation schools in its area;

(b) establish and maintain in its area courses of instruction in the nature of continuation education;

(c) assist in maintaining schools in its area in which continuation education is provided.

Registration of certain persons attending continuation schools and courses.

33. —Where a continuation school or a course of instruction maintained or provided by a vocational education committee is attended by young persons who have the prospect of employment in a particular trade, business, or occupation, it shall be the duty of such vocational education committee to register and classify such young persons and to provide in the curriculum of such school or in the instruction given in such course (as the case may be) for the educational requirements of such young persons having regard to the nature of the said employment.

General powers in relation to technical education.

34. —In performance of the duties in relation to technical education imposed on vocational education committees by this Act, every such committee may do all or any of the following things, that is to say:—

(a) establish and maintain or assist in maintaining technical schools within its area;

(b) establish and maintain or assist in establishing and maintaining in its area courses of instruction in the nature of technical education;

(c) contribute to the expenses incurred by persons resident in its area in obtaining technical education at schools or courses within or outside such area;

(d) with the special sanction of the Minister, aid persons resident in its area in obtaining further education at technical colleges or central technical institutions or technical training colleges or other centres of advanced technical education within or outside such area.

Existing supply of technical education.

35. —A vocational education committee, when exercising the powers in relation to technical education conferred on it by this Act, shall have regard to any existing supply of technical education in its area.

Determination of subject matter of powers.

36. —Where a vocational education committee exercises or proposes to exercise its powers under this Act for a particular purpose which is a purpose authorised by this Act, and a question arises as to whether such purpose is a purpose relating to continuation education or is a purpose relating to technical education, such question shall be referred by such committee to the Minister and the decision of the Minister thereon shall be final and conclusive.

Deficiency in supply of continuation education or technical education.

37. —(1) Whenever, in the opinion of the Minister, a vocational education committee is not making adequate and suitable provision for the supply of continuation education in its area, the Minister may require such committee to make such particular provision for the supply of such education as he may, having regard to the moneys available for such committee, think fit to specify and require, and thereupon it shall become and be the duty of such committee to comply in all respects with such requisition.

(2) Whenever, in the opinion of the Minister, a vocational education committee is not making adequate and suitable provision for the supply of technical education in its area, the Minister may require such committee to make such particular provision for the supply of such education as he may, having regard to the moneys available for such committee, think fit to specify and require, and thereupon it shall become and be the duty of such committee to comply in all respects with such requisition.

(3) A requisition made by the Minister under this section may require a vocational education committee to provide continuation education or technical education (as the case may be) by making with another vocational education committee an arrangement of such character and containing such terms as are specified in such requisition whereby continuation education or technical education (as the case may be) provided by such last-mentioned committee is made available for persons resident in the area of such first-mentioned committee, and where any such requisition is so made it shall be the duty of both such committees to enter into and give effect to such arrangement.

Higher technical education.

38. —(1) A vocational education committee for a borough vocational education area may, subject to compliance with the next following sub-section of this section, establish and maintain in its area a school (in this section referred to as a day technical college) having for its main object the provision of education, in the general principles of science, commerce, or art suited to the requirements of persons employed in positions of control or responsibility in trade or industry.

(2) The following provisions shall apply to and be complied with in every day technical college, that is to say:—

(a) such college shall not provide for the training in the technique of any trade or craft save to such extent as the same may be ancillary to its main object and be approved of by the Minister; and

(b) admission to such college shall be confined to students who at the beginning of the school year are not less than sixteen years in age; and

(c) students enrolled at such college shall be charged such fees as may be approved of by the Minister; and

(d) no student shall be admitted to such college who does not possess such qualifications as may be prescribed by the Minister.

(3) Persons selected or accepted by the Minister for training as teachers shall be afforded such facilities at a day technical college on such terms and in such manner as the Minister considers reasonable.

Establishment of scholarships.

39. —A vocational education committee may, with the approval of the Minister, establish or assist in establishing scholarships tenable within or outside its area and fix the amounts and tenure of such scholarships and the conditions on which they may be awarded and held.

Co-operation between committees.

40. —Any two or more vocational education committees may subject to the approval of the Minister, enter into an arrangement for the joint exercise of any of their powers under this Part of this Act on such terms and conditions as may be agreed between them, and if any question arises between such committees in relation to such arrangement the matter in question shall be referred to the Minister whose decision thereon shall be final.

Fees to be charged by committees.

41. —(1) Subject to the provisions of this section, a vocational education committee may, in accordance with a scale prepared by it and approved by the Minister, fix and charge fees for attendance at all or any schools and courses of instruction maintained or provided by it under this Act.

(2) No fees shall be charged by a vocational education committee for the admission to a compulsory course of instruction provided by it under Part V . of this Act of persons who attend such course in pursuance of an obligation imposed on them by the said Part V.

(3) No fees shall be charged by a vocational education committee for the admission to a course of instruction provided by it under Part VI . of this Act of persons who attend such course in pursuance of an obligation imposed on them by the said Part VI.

(4) A vocational education committee may, with the approval of the Minister, remit either in whole or in part any fees which it is entitled to charge under this section.