Teacher groups angry at Minister

Press, 3 May 1984, Page 8

Teacher groups angry at Minister

PA Wellington Angry teacher groups severely criticised the Minister of Education, Mr Wellington, yesterday for making big changes to teachers’ college recruitment policies without first consulting them. One of the changes already approved by Mr Wellington and made public yesterday will mean a more open entry to teachers’ colleges. The Education Department would recruit abput 25 per cent more studerfS than

it needed, then after the first year select those who would continue training. Teachers said they were alarmed that Mr Wellington had already given the green light to the new policies without consulting them. In protest, representatives of the Kindergarten Teachers’ Association, PostPrimary Teachers’ Association, and Teacher Trainees’ Association walked out of a meeting with Education Department officials and other groups which had been called to discuss the issue.

The policies already approved by the Government come from a report prepared by a five-man advisory group set up by Mr Wellington late last year to look into selection, payment and training of teachers. Teacher unions said they were not aware that the committee had even been set up. Other policies from the report already approved by Mr Wellington are: © Increasing the proportion of trainees who are mature or who have work expedience by loosening the

criteria to give these students greater financial assistance. • Administering the reserve quota for Maori and Pacific Island trainees on a national rather than regional basis. The Kindergarten Teachers’ Association said it deplored the lack of consultation and accused Mr Wellington of window dressing before the election.

The teacher trainees’ national president, Ms Alison Taylor, said the Education Department officials had said that the policies

approved by Mr Wellington were “not negotiable.” “He has made big changes that needed widespread consultation,” Ms Taylor said.

The P.P.T.A. said it was appalled and outraged that it was not consulted. The Educational Institute said it opted to stay at the department meeting. The national president, Mr Lex Familton, said that primary teachers were more concerned about the open entry policy at. the moment, compared with the lack of consultation.