Student came, but no course

Press, Volume CXV, Issue 33774, 21 February 1975, Page 1

Student came, but no course

(New Zealand Press Association)

NELSON, February 20. A Motueka boy, accepted for the Christchurch Teachers’ College woodwork course, was told on arrival that there was no such course.

The Motueka High School Management Committee has decided to complain to the Education Department and to seek recompense and an explanation.

The school’s principal (Mr R. W. Stevens), told the committee that a senior pupil had been selected for a division B

woodwork course at the' secondary teachers’ college. ; He had arranged private! board in Christchurch, paid; money for interim board, he) had bought new clothes and! incurred other costs. The pupil was disappointed; and the incident reflected a! lack of consideration by the) Education Department, Mr! Stevens said. The pupil had accepted the information and instructions! issued to him in good faith.; “After selecting the pupil far the course, I feel this is poor,” said the chairman (Mr D. H. P. Smith). “I would! not like it to happen to an-| other pupil.” Mr R. Kelling said he knew of a similar case sent to the; Ombudsman after satisfaction had not been reached with the department. The committee decided to approach the Education Department. and also the person in charge of teacher training. Christchurch. CHANGES MADE Asked to comment, the acting head of the secondary division of Christchurch Teachers’ College (Mr A. Cargo) said tonight there had been a course of that sort but it involved two years at! the Christchurch Technical; Institute and one year at the Teachers’ College secondary division.

“Because of recent changes at the Technical Institutes they were unable to provide the sort of course that the bov would need to prepare him for teacher training,” he said.

Mr Cargo said he had seen the parents of the boy concerned. It had been decided the boy would return to high school for a seventh-form vear. enter division U. the Teachers’ College university course, and then when he had completed his degree, do his teacher training. j