Technical Institute Grows Rapidly

Press, Volume CV, Issue 31011, 17 March 1966, Page 12

Technical Institute Grows Rapidly

The Christchurch Technical Institute, with a roll approaching 6000, is now larger in numbers of students, than the University of Canterbury. Although more than half the institute roll is part-time, the hours of work of these students probably match those of part-time students and others at the university taking limited courses.

This is the institute’s first year of independent operation, its Technical High School having been merged in the new Hagley High School. Expectations that the loss of secondary pupils would be compensated in

t annually-increasing numbers ■ of trades, technicians, and i other classes have been fully I realised. i The institute has 2300 t apprentices on daytime traini ing and 3590 other students i in part-time classes, plus 180

full-time students on Maori apprenticeship training and in the School of Commerce. In addition Teachers’ College students, dental nurses, and similar trainees go to the institute for some training. Staff Members

Present regulations allow the institute the equivalent of 72.4 full-time staff members. The full-time staff is 53 and the rest is made up by the shorter hours of nearly 200 part-time teachers. 'This complement works the hug' total of 800,000 student hours annually. The spread of training this years gives these approximate percentages:—apprentices 33, technicians 20, management 25, commerce and business 12, general 10. Most students are from Christchurch, but joinery machinists come from all over the country, and painting and decorating and panelbeating students come from all over the South Island, as do students in carpentry and joinery, the furniture trades, and motor engineering. There are 50 Maori apprentices from the North Island taking a years training in carpentry and joinery, painting and decorating, and panelbeating. Most then take apprenticeships in the South Island. 8 a.m. to 9 p.m. The effect of all this is that the extensive accommodation of the Technical Institute and former Technical College is almost fully occupied from 8 a.m. until 9 p.m. daily. More than 300 cars cram the quadrangles in the evenings and street parking is fully occupied for blocks around. The institute’s willingness to provide any approved course requested has resulted in many innovations this year. Journalism has been introduced with 27 students, 12 were expected for a pharmacy assistants’ course and 37 enrolled, food hygiene will be started in May and in the second term there will be courses in timber grading requested by the Forest Service and concrete technology supported by the New Zealand Portland Cement Association. A series of block courses (successive groups coming in in turn) will be held for radio technicians of the Broadcasting Corporation and Post Office.

The institute is gratified by large enrolments for the higher certificates for technicians in electrical, mechanical, and civil engineering, building, achitectural drawing, sciences, and office procedure, which will make 11 new classes.