Manual training schools in New Zealand

Manual training schools were a form of vocational education in New Zealand for standards 5–6 (children aged 11–13) that had been established at the start of the 20th century.

Since 1884 there were beliefs that academic education was not properly preparing children for the actual jobs they were to take up after leaving school.

[2] Victorian ideals on education still dominated New Zealand society and this influenced the curriculum of the manual training schools.

[1] In Auckland manual training was offered at central locations such as Richmond Road (Ponsonby), Newmarket, and Upper Queen Street — with the idea that students could commute to them.

[3] Although many manual training schools have been demolished due to being obsolete some still survive with a couple having local historic protections.