Many applicants for teacher training

Press, Volume CXIII, Issue 33383, 15 November 1973, Page 12

Many applicants for teacher training

The number of applicants for secondary teacher training next year has allowed the Department of Education to adopt a more selective policy.

There have been more than 1800 applicants for secondary teacher training at Auckland and Christchurch, an increase of about 300 on last year. The quota set by the Government for trainees is between 1200 and 1300. One of the features of the applicants this year is the marked increase in the number of persons applying for direct entry (those who have already completed a degree). Mr 'R. U. Roy, district senior inspector of secondary schools in Christchurch, said yesterday that the standard of applicants was "very good.” “For the first time in many years we can afford to be fairly ‘choosey’ over who we accept,” he said.

As in previous years men applicants slightly outnumber women. Applications for entry to the country’s seven primary teachers’ colleges are handled by education boards and no final quota has been given by the Government for entry of first year trainees next year. In Canterbury, however, there have been 900 applications—predominantly from women—for an estimated 280 places in Christchurch next year. In the secondary division, non-graduates under 20 receive $2325 a year; those over 20 $3Oll a year; and graduates $3466 “ a year. First-year primary trainees receive $1713 (under 20) and $2859 (over 20).