ACCOMMODATION AND STAFFING

Press, Volume LXXXV, Issue 25713, 27 January 1949, Page 6

ACCOMMODATION AND STAFFING

PROBLEM IN CANTERBURY SCHOOLS

Serious problems of accommodation and staffing in primary schools in the Canterbury Education Board’s districts are expected when the schools reopen next week. The position at secondary schools is not as serious and enrolments there and at Canterbury University College are not expected to be much greater than they were last year. It is probable that probationary assistahts will have to be used as relieving assistants in the third term this year. “The Education Department does not like doing this, but it is sometimes unavoidable.” the secretary of the Canterbury Education Board (Mr L. E. Rowley) said yesterday. “We do not anticipate that we will be able to avoid doing it this year.” This will mean that some second year training college students during the third term will have to fill probationary assistants’ positions. A strenuous effort to increase the supply of teachers was being made by the Education Department. Mr Rowley said, but he did not think the shortage would be overcome until the students now being enrolled became fully qualified teachers. Canterbury’s quota of first-year students to enter the Teachers’ Training College this year was originally 16U. but the department ha= stated that a number of additional students not selected in the quota will also be admitted. Nelson’s quota of students and a number from Hawke’s Bay will also be enrolled at the Christchurch Training College.