No money for trainee teachers in schools

Press, 12 June 1986, Page 9

No money for trainee teachers in schools

The Christchurch Teachers’ College Council was told again yesterday that there would be no money left to send trainees on section in the third term. The council was told last month that because the Education Department had not granted the college enough money for trainee and lecturer travel expenses, trainees might not be able to travel to schools outside Christchurch in the third term. The college registrar, Mr Tom Gregg, told the council yesterday that trainee travel allowances had been increased

dramatically, but the college had not received any extra funding to pay the allowances. Trainees are now entitled to claim 25c a kilometre for using private vehicles while on section. The previous allowance was three cents. Rates for using motor-cycles have also increased. Mr Gregg said the new rates meant that this year the college would have to pay out, on average, $lOO more a trainee for each time they were on section. The college did not have that money, he said. Professor Wally Clark

said that even with the increase the allowance was still about 10c a kilometre less than the amount paid to public servants who had to use a private vehicle for business purposes. "These rates for students are positively miserly,” he said. The council will write to the Education Department asking why trainees are paid a lower level of reimbursement than public servants. The principal’s management committee is already preparing a case to put before the department asking for increased funds for travel allowances.