Teacher Supply Put First

Press, Volume CII, Issue 30130, 14 May 1963, Page 14

Teacher Supply Put First

(New Zeaiana Press Association)

WELLINGTON, May 13

The Government would not commit itself to any proposal for longer teacher training if it meant that the shortage of teachers would be worsened, said the Minister of Education (Mr Tennent) today.

He told the annual meeting of the Educational Institute that the Commission on Education’s proposals on longer teacher training and small classes were being closely studied.

[The institute plans to make a reduction of the size of classes its major aim for 1963-64. A remit to the conference asks the annual meeting to reaffirm a policy of total revaluation of the teaching profession.] Mr Tennent said higher entrance qualifications for teachers, longer training and small classes were in competition with each other, and priorities had to be established. In making its recommends •

tion. the commission had been realistic in its approach. It recommended that, as from this year, the entrance qualification for primary teaching be raised to sixth-foirm level. This had been done already. It estimated that it would take two years tor the supply of primary teachers to stabilise itself at this higher level and therefore recommended that a beginning be made in 1966 on a longer course of teacher training. The commission forecast

that the shortage of primary teachers would be over by 1968. The first of the teachers with. three years’ training would enter the service in 1970, and in that year the first significant steps could be taken toward smaller classes The two improvements, longer training and smaller classes, would then continue together until the late 1970’5. “I know the commission’s blueprint will have been a disappointment to many here today.” Mr Tennent said. “But the commission, with the best will in the world, could not recommend a faster introduction of a three-year course or a reduction in the size of primary classes.” The Government had so far implemented 38 of the Education Commission’s recommendations at a cost of £3,500.000, the Minister of Education (Mr Tennent) told the annual conference of the Education Institute. “This represents extra expenditure and will be cumulative,” said Mr Tennent. “It commits the country for the future.