New Teachers’ College

Press, Volume CIV, Issue 30829, 14 August 1965, Page 14

New Teachers’ College

The announcement of the purchase of land at Ham and of the immediate planning of a new teachers’ college there resolves several important issues. All concerned with the accommodation problems at the present college will be relieved by the prospect of early action, especially in view of the extension of primary school teacher-training to three years. The Minister of Education (Mr Kinsella) makes it clear that the whole of the college will eventually be transferred to Ilam, thus retaining the primary and post-primary departments in one institution. The closeness of the college to the new university campus will be convenient to teacher-trainees continuing their degree studies and will encourage useful informal associations between students and teachers. After the long negotiations and the complaints over planning difficulties while the future of the college remained uncertain, architects, course planners, and the college administrators will now be able to get on with work that has become increasingly urgent. It is a little disappointing, however, that Mr Kinsella made no mention of a students’ hostel. He and his department have shown their concern for vigorous progress in building both teachers’ colleges and hostels, most recently in connexion with the latest estimates for the five-year building programme. Christchurch needs a hostel almost as badly as it needs a new college. It is to be hoped that land for a hostel at Ilam will be secured without the frustrating and costly delays which attended the purchase of the college site.