SCHOOL ROLLS

Otago Daily Times, Issue 26849, 13 August 1948, Page 6

SCHOOL ROLLS

A RAPID INCREASE NEED FOR MORE TEACHERS Owing to the increases which are at present occurring in the number of children on school rolls, and especially in view of the rapid rise in school numbers that will take place in the next two or three years, there is now an urgent need for the training of additional teachers. The Daily Times was.. told yesterday- by the secretary of the Otago Education Board, Mr C. R. McLean, that, although the scarcity of teachers in Otago was no greater this year than last, the position in some parts of the Dominion, notably rlawke’s Bay and Auckland, was desperate. Mr McLean said that a number of former teachers, . mostly married women, had assisted the Otago Board by accepting positions, and as a result most of the schools were fully staffed. The board was grateful to those who had helped in this way. The primary objective of the Education Department, Mr McLean said, was to maintain staffs at their present numerical strength in accordance with the existing schedules, but when that was. achieved it was intended to provide more liberal staffing in order to reduce the size of classes. As a result, the prospects for young people embarking on a teaching profession were particularly bright at present. ■ Mr McLean said that 95 students were to be admitted to the Dunedin Training College as Otago’s quota, and there would also be entrants from Southland and South Canterbury. If there were more than 95 applicants from Otago, it was likely that Otago would be called upon to nil the quotas of other districts. The minimum qualification for entrance to Training College is a pass in the school certificate examination. Preference will be given to those who hold this certificate at the time of application, and are suitable in other respects. Those sitting the examination this year, however, are free to apply, and the board expects that a good number will do so. The board usually receives a number of applications from young people who desire a change of occupation, as the applications are not confined to those still attending primary schools. In addition to the quota of 95 students, between 30 and 40 students from all parts of the Dominion, will be taking a course in homecraft. Mr McLean said that the board would like to see more students from Otago taking this course. The second year of it was spent at the Christchurch Technical College, and the third as probationary assistant in the student s own district. The school certificate was the minimum qualification for the course. Applications for admission to the one-year course at Auckland for post-primary teachers would be welcomed from graduates and those who would complete their degree this year. Applications for»jentry to the Training College close with the Otago Education Board on September 1.