EDUCATIONAL MATTERS

Waikato Times, Volume 118, Issue 19760, 16 December 1935, Page 6

EDUCATIONAL MATTERS

PAUCITY OF TEACHERS.

ADMISSION OF FIVE-YEAR-OLDS,

MINISTERIAL ANNOUNCEMENT.

(By Telegraph—Press Association.)'

WELLINGTON, Saturday

The Minister for Education, Hon. P Fraser, announced to-day in regard to the admission of five-year-olds to schools and the reduction of large classes, that the first step was to find the teachers that he required- It, would be necessary to train additional teachers to the number of some hundreds. The Government had. therefore, decided to re-open the Dunedin Training College. The provision of adequate training facilities at Wellington, was also under consideration, and a decision would be announced shortly.

It is not expected that it will be possible at the present moment to obtain more than some 300 additional oandidates suitable for the teaching profession, but with a view to enabling all suitable students to apply for admission, it has been decided lo cancel the present allowances and substitute £IOO per annum, reducible to £7O. where the student is not required to live away from his usual place of residence.

Regarding the College entrance examination, in the time available before the colleges open next year, it is proposed to accept qualifications of the equivalent of the higher standard, including a higher-leaving certificate and credit pass, in the University Entrance Scholarship Examination. It is also proposed to accept for training applicants qualified to enter for a year as “C" students by holding a University degree, such receiving the same allowance as those taking the twoyear course.

As far as possible the difficulties arising from the admission of five-year-olds will be met by temporary arrangements, pending the training of additional teachers. Admission at five years will be entirely optional on the part of parents.