New Reading Figure “Scandalous”

Press, Volume CIII, Issue 30406, 3 April 1964, Page 1

New Reading Figure “Scandalous”

(Neu? Zealand Press Association) WELLINGTON, April 2. There always had been secondary school children who could not read and the proportion was not any greater now, the Minister of Education (Mr Kinsella) said in Hamilton today. “The fact that it exists however, is scandalous. I do not think we can ever be complacent.”

Mr Kinsella was commenting on a recent statement that several hundred people in the Hamilton area were illiterate. He said the Government was now working on a scheme with teacher organisations to institute standardised test checks in primary schools. These would give teachers a guide on pupils’ fundamental weaknesses. The tests in arithmetic, English, spelling and reading would probably be given in standards 1, 4 and 6. They would be designed to discover weaknesses as they appeared so that remedial measures could be taken. These remedial measures would take the form of special group classes. Mr Kinsella said he was sure teachers would welcome these tests, which were not to grade them but to aid them.

“We have in New Zealand a very great proportion of young teachers who find it difficult to measure in their

own mind standards which they should be attaining.” He said this year was an all-time record for teachers’ college intakes in New Zealand and qualifications had never been higher. No student had less than endorsed school certificate and more than 50 per cent had university entrance or higher. A report was expected in a few weeks from the national advisory committee on teacher training. This would advise what extra training colleges were necessary and where, and also methods of introducing a three-year training period as soon as possible. This year all schools had started with every classroom staffed.