TEACHERS’ COLLEGES ON EDUCATION REPORT

Press, Volume CI, Issue 29902, 16 August 1962, Page 17

TEACHERS’ COLLEGES ON EDUCATION REPORT

"The Education Commission's report makes heartening reading, and the sections referring particularly to the teachers’ colleges are bold and imaginative, yet practical in application,” said Dr. J. F. Mann, president of the New Zealand Teachers’ Colleges’ Association, in Christchurch yesterday. The association is a federation of the lecturers' associations at the seven teachers’ colleges. “It is to be hoped that the Government will give urgent consideration to the report as a whole, but especially to teacher training.” said Dr Mann. “To quote the report: “The recruitment and training of teachers stood out as the most clamant problem of all those placed before the commission.’ “The introductory statement also points out that the training colleges appear to have been, for a long time, a depressed section of the education system of our country, and are in need of reorganisation and improvement.” said Dr. Mann. “The education system of any country is only as effective as its teacher preparation. Major Issues

“Of the major issues concerning teachers’ colleges, the most important recommendation is that seeking the incorporation of the colleges in the university system as is the present practice in England and Wales. A closer liaison between the colleges and the universities has long been advocated by those concerned with teacher training.

“The suggested lengthening of the training period for teachers from two to three years is long overdue, too.” said Dr. Mann. “A feature of this recommendation is

the detailed plan for the gradual introduction of the third year of training from 1966 to 1975.

“The setting-up of a national advisory council on the training of teachers to advise the Minister or Director of Education, higher qualifications for entry to the profession, an improved staff-student ratio for the colleges, better staffing and salaries for lecturers. and more colleges are among the more important of the other recommendations,” Dr. Mann said. “Crucial” Issues “The New Zealand Teachers' Colleges’ Association has long advocated these issues as crucial and would press firmly for the implementation of toe commission’s recommendations on teacher training. The setting-up of the commission was brought about by public and professional anxiety about the state of our education system. and it is to be hoped that not only those directly concerned but also those interested will support immediate action.” said Dr. Mann. “The fate of other reports on education does not encourage any great optimism about the implementing of this one,” said Dr. Mann “It would be futile if. as happened with the report of the 1951 Consultative Committee on the Recruitment. Education, and Training of Teachers, the only recommendations instituted were those that appeared to ininvolve least financially. "For the future well-being of teacher education, our association trusts that toe sections on this topic will

be accepted by toe Government and urgently implemented,” said Dr. Mann.