Institute Teachers Still Dissatisfied

Press, Volume CV, Issue 30965, 22 January 1966, Page 3

Institute Teachers Still Dissatisfied

(New Zealand Press Association)

WELLINGTON, January 21.

The Association of Teachers in Technical Institutes considers the statement made yesterday by the Minister of Education (Mr Kinsella) on the review of service conditions in technical institutes is both misleading and incomplete.

The president of the association (Mr R. C. Smith) said this today, commenting on the Minister’s published statement.

“The most significant result of more than a year’s negotions is that a tutor can no longer be required to stand in front of a class for more than 30 hours a week," said Mr Smith.

Tutors had frequently taught for excessive periods, in one case averaging 44 hours a week for a working month.

“This says a lot for the co-operative spirit of the tutors, but is obviously to the detriment of both the students and the community,” Mr Smith said. “The new limit is still from six to 10 hours above the figures on which the original conditions of service were based in discussions two years ago.” Also, sail Mr Smith, the Minister made no mention of the fact that an investigating committee of the Department of Education on ancillary staffing for technical institutes had been convened for

more than two years and appeared incapable of reaching a conclusion. The minor adjustments which had been made in relation to deputy-principals of technical institutes affected only four persons in all the institutes.

tally Inadequate”

But more than 50 course supervisors had been given a totally inadequate average time allowance of a little more than two hours a week, said Mr Smith.

“The Minister says the time allowance has been increased but tactfully avoids making it clear that supervisor staff in the past has been expected to carry a full teaching load, or, alternatively, oe given a time allowance at the expense of an increasing load on the staff working under them,” said Mr Smith. “The Minister’s proposals on teacher training are welcome, but we hope that their implementation will not be fraught with the delays characteristic of the general development of technical education.”