TEACHERS' TRAINING COLLEGES.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXVIII, Issue 20977, 14 September 1931, Page 13

TEACHERS' TRAINING COLLEGES.

Sir, —There are four large training colleges in New Zealand costing the country nearly £200,000 a year. About half this huge sum is paid to the young student teachers, who get £3O or £9O a year each from the taxpayer while they are being trained for Vieir job. While this may have been all right in flush times, it cannot be defended when the country is right up against it. Little harm would be done if no more teachers were trained for another year at least. The department has at present a surplus of trained teachers and is crying to "sack" experienced married women to make way for young trainees. Two colleges are more than ample. Either that or let the department ration the four colleges down to half-time work. The Training College vote should be cut down by £IOO,OOO at once, notwithstanding the secretary of the Educational Institute, who seems concerned only to increase the present impossible expenditure. Primary.