Refresher funds drop

Press, 10 May 1979, Page 21

Refresher funds drop

PA Wellington Refresher courses for teachers during their holidays are threatened because of diminishing funds. The teachers’ Refresher Course Committee, made up of teacher representatives, received a Government grant to cover travel, materials and tutors’ fees for holiday courses which are open in theory to all teachers.

The committee says its grants have failed to keep pace with inflation and unless this year's allocation is substantially higher even more teachers will be turned away from courses.

Last year's grant of almost $100,01)0 was the

first for several years which allowed for inflation. but because of the carry-over of charges from 1977-78, the committee was able to offer only 14 courses instead of its usual 20.

•In his annual report, the chairman of the committee (Mr R. O'Brien) says the cut-back in courses denied several hundred teachers the opportunity of refresher training. Also, 79 applicants were turned away from over-subscribed courses, with 69 late entrants.

The committee also has to face the “unpalatable business of further retrenchment” caused by the cancellation of a social studies

eburse. Another embarrassment to the committee is its failure to meet teachers’ requests for follow-up courses in a specific area because ot the committee’s obligation to such “bread and butter” demands as courses to help teachers improve their pupils’ reading skills.

The New Zealand Education Institute, which often reacts angrily to any teacher training cutbacks, is likely to remind the Government again of the importance of the refresher course scheme, which is the only one where course attendance is by application rather than selection and which takes place in the teacher's own time.