3-Year Teacher Training, Smaller Classes Planned

Press, Volume CII, Issue 30173, 3 July 1963, Page 17

3-Year Teacher Training, Smaller Classes Planned

tFrom Our Parliamentary Reporter] WELLINGTON, July 2. By 1973, primary school classes may be reduced to a maximum of 35 pupils. The Minister of Education (Mr Tennent) announced today that the Government had approved “in principle” a 10-year programme of building and teacher-training to make this possible. It is expected to add £2O million to the bill for State education over “approximately 10 years.”

Included in the programme is the introduction of threeyear training for primary teachers. Both these reforms were recommended, with the highest priority, by the Commission on Education. Mr Tennent said he would put another recommendation of the commission into effect by setting up a National Advisory Council for Education, with representatives of teachers, teachers’ colleges, education controlling authorities,

and the univeristies. One of its first tasks would be to consider the three-year training programme, he said. The new policies will mean that 50 per cent, more places will have to be found in teachers’ colleges to provide enough teachers. The longer training course would be the biggest improvement in teacher training since the two-year course was introduced 60 years ago, said Mr Tennent. “All pro-

fessional opinion regards longer training as essential if classes are to be properly taught." Mr Tennent recalled that in 1930 it was recommended that classes should be reduced, first to 40 and then to 35 pupils. Classes had gradually been reduced, he said, “but one-quarter of our classes still have more than 40 pupils.” The Government's approval “in principle” means that the Department of Education will now plan the moves needed to achieve the new figure of 35. The extra classrooms are expected to cost £5 million. Mr Tennent said that the changes had to be spread to avoid disruption of the supply of teachers and to relieve the strain on building resources.