GOVT HOPES TO CUT SIZE OF CLASSES

Press, Volume CVIII, Issue 31763, 21 August 1968, Page 26

GOVT HOPES TO CUT SIZE OF CLASSES

(New Zealand Press Association)

WELLINGTON, August 20.

The Government hoped to begin reducing the size of classes in secondary schools soon, the Prime Minister (Mr Holyoake) told the New Zealand Post Primary Teachers’ Association today.

Officially opening the association's annual conference Mr Holyoake said the Minister of Education (Mr Kinsella) had repeatedly emphasised this need to Cabinet, “Last year, when your executive met me I approved the Minister’s -equest that a joint committee be set up to examine this problem. Yesterday he reported that he had just received the report of the joint departmental and association committee. “When these recommendations have gone through the normal procedures for a proposal of this size. Cabinet will

give the matter the fullest consideration,” said the Prime Minister.

Mr Holyoake said that reduction in class sizes should be possible by an increase of one-third in the number <•* applications for secondary teacher training from 950 at the end of February, 1967, to 1230 at the end of February, 1968.

More Graduates

“It is heartening to note that some 161 of the trainees are graduates, and that the number of graduates available for appointment to teach-

ing is 560 this year as against 400 last year.

“Studentship numbers have also increased sharply, and the final total this year is 640. a rise of more than 100 from last year,” said the Prime Minister. While serious economic difficulties had restricted State spending the Government had increased the financial priority of education and had continued to do this in the last two years. Last year education expenditure increased by $16,000,000, and this year by $10,000,000. “I have no doubt that, as in past years, there will be new developments and the supplementary estimates will make further substantial increases this year,” he said. Measures taken to increase the supply of teachers had resulted in a rise of just on 60 per cent of regular qualified teachers in eight years.

“This increase has been made to keep pace with the vast expansion during the same period in the secondary school system. Heavy Strains “Nevertheless this great expansion has created heavy strains on secondary schools,” Mr Holyoake said. Allocations for secondary education had more than doubled. Salaries of secondary teachers had increased by $13,000,000 from 1960-61, and another $3,500,000 had been provided for, general expenses, free textbooks, academic bursaries, and boarding allowances.

Also, he said, the generalpurposes grant in secondary schools had been increased substantially, and a large building programme had been undertaken.