STANDARDS TOO LOW

Otago Daily Times, Issue 27499, 20 September 1950, Page 10

STANDARDS TOO LOW

Entrance To Teaching

Profession PA WELLINGTON, Sept. 18. Mr W. B. Tennent (Govt., Palmerston North) said in the Budget debate in the House of Representatives tonight that it was an anomaly that of all the professions in the country the standards required for entrance to the teaching profession were the lowest. This situation had developed through the demands for increasing numbers of teachers by the ever-increasing school population and the intense competition in the labour market. He was pleased that a very large section of the teaching profession felt the need for, and was making a determined effort to obtain, university degrees, though improvements could be made to help the students extra-murally. Mr Tennent advocated providing better educational facilities for parttime students. He said that although the number of full-time university students would increase, there would always be in New Zealand a considerable number who could afford neither the time nor the money for full-time studies. He said their needs should be met by the provision of a correspondence branch of the universities. This correspondence branch could be conducted by a special school of education and could grant diplomas. Special tutors would have to be provided, including travelling tutors to assist students in various centres. It was also desirable that there should be more third-year studentships. at training colleges and a closer liaison between universities and training colleges. Training college work should count towards a university degree. Mr Tennent said the Education Department was an over-centralised system, and education boards opposed that over-centralisation as strongly as ever. More autonomy could be given to boards in regard to the conveyance of school children, in the purchasing of school sites once the department had approved them, and in opening new schools or reopening closed ones. The boards, within certain limits, should be able to complete school building plans without throwing the whole burden on the department.