‘Callous disregard’ shown by Govt

Press, Volume CXV, Issue 33816, 12 April 1975, Page 16

‘Callous disregard’ shown by Govt

The status of speech therapy in New Zealand was a blot on this country’s educational achievement, the president of the Student Teachers’ Association (Mr D. Stedman) said in Christchurch yesterday.

It was unthinkable that i despite a well known need 'for more speech therapists Ito treat adult and child patients New Zealand did 'not have a full-scale training ■ course up to international (standards, he said. “The IS-month course at ithe Christchurch Teachers’ i College does no justice to the I capabilities of trainees.” : Graduates of the ChristI church course were not perimitted to use essential diagi nostic tests because they were insufficiently qualified. “ABSURDITY” "This is obviously an absurd position but when the head of the course resigns through frustration from working with a Government; and Education Department! that simply do not under-: stand the needs of people: requiring speech therapy the: .'absurdity becomes tragic.”! Mr Stedman said. The Student Teachers'] Association believed that the] department and the Govern-j ment had shown a callous: disregard for the plight of] those unable to play a full] role in society because of communicative defects.

If the Government did not intend to up-date the training of speech therapists who

could work in hospitals and schools in this country, then it should immediately institute a full scholarship scheme to enable New Zealand students to get training overseas.