TALKS ON PROGRESS IN EDUCATION

Press, Volume CI, Issue 30004, 13 December 1962, Page 25

TALKS ON PROGRESS IN EDUCATION

(New Zealand Preu Auociation)

WELLINGTON, Dec. 12. The condition and prospects of development in education policy were discussed this week by representatives ot the council of Pa rent-Teacher Federations with the Director of Education (Mr A. E. Campbell) and the senior inspector of primary schools (Mr B. M. Pinder).

Points at issue, says a statement by the council today. concerned the current drive of the council for improved conditions for teaching and teaching standards throughout the education system.

The leader of the deputation, Mr A. P. Quinn, assistant secretary of the council, said the aim of the parentteacher organisation was to ensure that modern education was accorded the highest priority among Government projects. The council recognised the progress made by the Government, said Mr Quinn when referring in particular to the relief of the teaching shortage by the provision of teacher-aides <BO at present), the implementation of points outlined by the Commission on Education, the employment of trained teachers from the United Kingdom, and the increase of Teachers’

College admission qualifications to a minimum of endorsed school certificate. This raising of standards was an important step towards realising a long-stand-ing aim of the council, he said. The statement says Mr Pinder explained that large numbers of New Zealand teachers annually moved to other countries. He felt it was right that this should be offset by the recruitment of suitable staff in the United Kingdom. During 1962, 250 teachers had been recruited from overseas.

In August, the council had issued a brochure “Education. Our Right and Responsibility,” setting out the aims of the council, and citeing examples of staff shortages and inadequacies in the method of teacher training and selection.

To support these factors, said Mr Quinn, the council had in some cases used data which regrettably was incorrect, and which had created an impression not intended.

With regard to the size of school classes, the brochure had stated that “few" classes in New Zealand contained fewer than 40 pupils. Mr Campbell said that in 1961 nearly 70 per cent, of schools had classes smaller than 41 children.