page_title: Liberal Government of New Zealand
section_title: Education
hierarchical_section_title: Liberal Government of New Zealand / Significant policies / Education
caption_attribution_description: English: Photograph of Prime Minister Thomas Mackenzie and his Cabinet Ministers. Front: Josiah Hanan, Arthur Myers, Thomas Mackenzie, William McDonald, George Laurenson. Back Row: George Warren Russell, Henry George Ell, Peter Henry Buck, James Colvin, Thomas Buxton. Taken in 1912 by an unknown photographer.
context_page_description: The Liberal Government of New Zealand was the first responsible government in New Zealand politics organised along party lines. The government formed following the founding of the Liberal Party and took office on 24 January 1891, and governed New Zealand for over 21 years until 10 July 1912. To date, it is the longest-serving government in New Zealand's history. The government was also historically notable for enacting significant social and economic changes, such as the Old Age Pensions Act and women's suffrage. One historian described the policies of the government as "a revolution in the relationship between the government and the people".
context_section_description: Increased funds were allocated to education.
  Many new schools were built each year, while the number of teachers grew more rapidly than students, enabling class sizes to be reduced.
  The Manual and Technical Instruction acts of 1900 and 1902 provided local authorities with the power to spend money on technical education and make land grants.
  Technical education was expanded, with 13,500 students attending such classes by 1912 at eight institutions.
  After 1895, students could receive assistance with rail transport to and from schools, and over the next few years small boarding allowances were paid as well.
  A free textbook scheme was launched.
  Bursaries were introduced for pupils who passed the matriculation exam with credit (1907). This led to a rise in the number of students who could attend university without having pay any fees.
  The Public-school Teachers' Salaries Act (1901) established a national scale of salaries.
  Higher leaving certificates were instituted to be awarded to secondary school students "who satisfactorily completed one year at approved post-matriculation studies" (1901). This ensured that any student who passed their university entrance examination and stayed another year at a secondary school studying an approved course could (if their work was of a good standard) receive a free university place for four years.
  New regulations for the examination and inspection of schools were introduced, which provided head teachers with greater freedom in the classification of their pupils.
  More secondary schools were brought into the national system (1903).
  By the outbreak of the First World War the national primary school service had been considerably improved.
  Free places in secondary schools were introduced (1902). By the end of the First Liberal Government, fewer than 20% of all secondary students paid any fees.
caption: The MacKenzie Ministry, 1912.
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