Minister upset at leak’ by student teachers

Press, 20 July 1979, Page 3

Minister upset at leak’ by student teachers

P.'2 Wellington The Minister of Education (Mr Wellington) is “extremely upset” that student teachers made public inform- ’ n said to have been gwen to them in confidence that they will receive no 1. ther cost-of-living in- < eases this year. Representatives of the Student Teachers’ Association met Mr Wellington on Wednesday afternoon. The association’s president (Ms lona Holstead) said later that people had been recruited into teaching on the tacit understanding that they would receive all cost-of-liv-ing and general-wage-order increments due to State servnts.

“The Minister’s action could now . ecipitate an almighty upheaval in teachers’ colleges both during the rest of 1979 and in subsequent years,” she said. Mr Wellington said on Wednesday evening that the student teachers’ present allowance would be rev’ewed.

The review would look to wards a restructuring of the allowance with the possibility of introducing a basic allowance and a supplemeni or loan option. This principle was similai to that used in determining the new tertiary-student bur . ties under which students rc 'ved a basic $23 a weel but could apply for a hard ship allowance. However, it was only i tentative proposal. An, changes would not be imple mented before 1981. The a'm of the reviev

v..s to correct an imbalance in teacher recruitment: there were more applicants for primary-school teaching than there were places at training colleges. The reverse applied in secondary and early-child- , hood training. Ms Holstead said the association would not co-operate : iu the review and would re- ■ fuse to co-operate with Mr Wellington until he reversed i his decision on the cost-of- • living adjustment. The association had absolutely no faith in the pro- ’ posed review.