MR TENNENT OPENS WESTBURN SCHOOL

Press, Volume CII, Issue 30061, 20 February 1963, Page 15

MR TENNENT OPENS WESTBURN SCHOOL

“We have a very good education system in New Zealand, and our aim is to give your children the best education possible,” the Minister of Education (Mr Tennent) told parents when he officially opened the Westburn School yesterday. The school is* in Waimairi road, near Greers road, and has a roll of 300.

“We are always willing to consider good constructive proposals and we want you to play your part in encouraging your children to grasp with both hands every opportunity available to them, because you realise as we do that a good education is one of the greatest assets any child could have. We who are responsible for it desire that these children in later life shall achieve success in the truest meaning of the word,” Mr Terinent said.

In 1900 about 10 per cent, of primary schoolchildren went on to post-primary schools. Thirty years later that figure had risen to 55 per cent. Today it had risen to 98 per cent. Pupils in postprimary schools were staying at school much longer, and a much bigger proportion was going on to the fifth and sixth forms. An indication of this was that more than 30,600 pupils sat the school certificate examination . last year, Mr Tennent said. Cost Of Classrooms Providing the necessary classrooms was costly, . and this financial year the Government would have spent £BJm on that work alone. The total amount spent on education for the year was £s2m. ‘ When he became Minister of Education he found there was an extreme shortage of teachers, and he was deter-

mined to do all in his power to remedy that position. “We are beginning to see beneficial results from the steps we have taken,” he said.

Post-primary teachers had been brought from overseas. A recruitment campaign had been set going tor teachers to enter training college. “The year we came into office approximately 1500 entered training college. Each successive year we increased the number and this year we have a record number of 1930. In 1960 the total number in all our training colleges was 3120. This year that number has risen to 3800, which is a record,” said Mr Tennent.

A national survey of the staffing of primary and intermediate schools at February 18 showed a distinct and heartening improvement on a similar survey made a year ago. Though the number of positions had increased by almost 370 to 11,070, the number of uncertificated teachers employed had decreased from 119 to 79. The number of superannuated teachers had decreased from 126 to 91, and the number of positions staffed by relief teachers had decreased from 457 to 160. Loss To Profession

“You always have a surplus of teachers in Canterbury, but they will not go anywhere else. As teachers are not public servants we cannot direct them, so many are lost to the profesr sion,” said Mr Tennent. “We are determined not only to remedy the teacher shortage but also to raise the standard of training. It was for that reason we announced that this next year the minimum standard of entry would be the equivalent of endorsed school certificate, and we hope to raise it to university entrance, but I do. not know when that will be’,” Mr Ten.nent said.

Mr Tennent planted a kauri tree in the school grounds, and said he hoped it would grow. They had been unsuccessful in Palmerston North. Other speakers were Mr V. C. Clarke, chairman of the Westburn School Committee, Mr A. S. Murray, chairman of the Canterbury Education Board, Mr M. A. Connelly, M.P., and Mr W. S. Barrett, headmaster of the school.

The children sang “Scotland The Brave” and “Praise My Soul, the King of Heaven.” The Rev. M. M. Warren said a prayer.