Major Objective In Education

Press, Volume CVII, Issue 31449, 16 August 1967, Page 16

Major Objective In Education

(From Our Own Reporter}

WELLINGTON, August 15.

A major objective in primary school education was to get one teacher for each 35 pupils and every effort was being made to achieve this, the Minister of Education (Mr Kinsella) said tonight.

He was commenting on a leading article in “The Press” on sizes of primary school classes.

“It should not be forgotten, however, that a greater priority is in getting longer training for teachers,” said Mr Kinsella.

“The Government specifically asked the Commission on Education to set priorities between the goals of (A) longer training (B) higher entrance qualification for teacher training (university entrance) and (C) smaller classes.”

With the full support of teachers’ organisations and controlling authorities, the commission had recommended priority for longer training, said Mr Kinsella. “This will involve well over 2000 additional trainees, and training college expansion, together with re-organisation and increases in staffing. “Priority is being given to recruiting and training new teachers and this stands in the way of any immediate and rapid decrease in the size of classes,” he said. "Another factor is that the Government is introducing the longer training within four years instead of the 10 recommended by the commission. This places additional

iressure in the next few years on finding the extra teachers needed.

“The Government’s objective of one teacher to 35 pupils remains, however, and progress has been made in .reducing the proportion of very large classes,” said Mr Kinsella.

“Classes of over 40 pupils have reduced from 21 per cent to 16 per cent between 1963 and 1966.

"In the 35 years mentioned in the editorial, it has been possible to reduce classes of over 40 pupils by 50 per cent.

‘®verything possible is being done to continue this trend but, with the best will in the world, there is no justification for altering agreed priorities in the middle pf a period of transition,” said Mr Kinsella.