Surplus Of Primary Teachers This Year

Press, Volume CIV, Issue 30769, 5 June 1965, Page 7

Surplus Of Primary Teachers This Year

t.Veic Zealand Press Association)

WELLINGTON, June 4. Between 1961 and last year there has been j a drop from 25 per cent to 19 per cent in the I number of school classes with more than 40 pupils.

I The Minister of Education i (Mr Kinsella) said this today when he commented on the statement made recently by the president of the Educational Institute (Mr G. G. Leith).

He said Mr Leith's statement in Masterton that there i were many schools which; could be given a better staffing deal was “unbelievable.” ■ Mr Kinsella said that this

year there was a surplus of primary teachers because of the success of the Govern-! ment’s recruiting camprign. “But with the introduction of three-year teacher training at the beginning of next year, I it is vital to build up a pool,” he said. | The Minister said the reserve of teachers would grow considerably each year until 1968 when it would begin to ■ be absorbed to fill vacancies i otherwise filled by teachers! retained in college for an j extra year.

“In the years during the transition there could well be a shortage, but by having this pool it should be possible to smooth out most of the difficulties,” he said. The Minister said in the meantime, the reserve was being used exactly in the manner advocated by Mr Leith. “Education boards are in fact placing these additional assistants in schools most in need of them, and when accommodation becomes available, they are used to reduce the size of classes,” he said.

Mr Kinsella said any depletion of the reserve through the adoption of new staffing schedules for schools could have “disastrous effects” on the staffing of country schools.