Training College Intake 2200

Press, Volume CIV, Issue 30678, 18 February 1965, Page 3

Training College Intake 2200

' OV.Z. Press Association) ' - u > » v-; ■ WELLINGTON, j February 17. Though record numbers of students had been admitted to teachers’ colleges this year, the demand for teachers was so great it would not be possible to raise the academic standards of admission, the Minister of Education (Mr Kinsella) said tonight Two thousand two hundred students had been admitted to train for the primary school service, compared with 2050 last year. “While the objective of the Government continues to be the raising of the academic standard for admission to university entrance, the demand

for teachers is so great it will not be possible to go beyond endorsed school certificate for some time yet,” he said. Mr Kinsella said the proportion of students with university entrance had increased to 55 per cent. This continued the trend shown last year, when the 1963 figure of 45 per cent rose by five per cent to 50 per cent The selection committees

reported an improvement in the all-round suitability of candidates selected for entry, Mr Kinsella said.

"The introduction tins year of a teachers* university studentship scheme constitutes an important new development in the training of primary teachers," he said. “A small group of able entrants to the primary course have been granted a teachers’ university studentship to attend university for up to

I three years before completing I their professional training by ! taking a final year of the primary course. “Another group of students ■ who have been successful in - university work on a part- ; time basis during their first i year at college in 1964 have ! been given awards to enable i them to do full-time university work this year. i “Those who were successful

will be considered for a further year of university work in 1966 before their return to the teachers* college to com-

plete their professional course in 1967,” he said. “Finally, a dozen able students have been granted a fourth year to complete a university degree. “In all, 130 of those preparing for work in the primary school service will engage in full-time university study during 1965,” Mr KinI sella said. J

“The new teachers’ university studentship will play a very important part in future years in increasing the proportion of primary teachers with university degrees,’’ he said. Mr Kinsella said this year’s 2200 applicants for primary school service training had been selected from 3000 applicants. The high level of recruitment was largely a result of the vigorous campaigns conducted on a co-pperative basis by the Department of Education and the education boards.

“It is particularly pleasing to note that Southland—which has been in difficulties in recent years—has substantially exceeded its quota, and that the South Auckland board has also had a record intake,” he said,