Teachers’ Colleges Entrance Standard

Press, Volume CVI, Issue 31119, 23 July 1966, Page 16

Teachers’ Colleges Entrance Standard

“I would like to see university entrance the minimum entrance standard for teachers’ colleges, the Minister of Education (Mr Kinsella) told students at Canterbury University last evening. He was speaking at the invitation of the Students’ Christian Movement.

There would in future have to be closer liaison between teachers’ colleges and the universities, Mr Kinsella said. At present the entrance standard was endorsed school certificate, but it could be raised in the future, and he would like to see it raised. Education had expanded greatly in New Zealand in recent years not only because of the growing population but also because of the growing demand for education. Today one-third of New Zealand’s population was taking courses from some educational institution, and a new school was built about every two weeks and a half. In 1939 New Zealand’s total bill for education was £sj million, by 1949 it was £l4 million, by 1957 it was £34 million, and by 1960 it was £39 million. £77 Million This year the bill would be £77 million —about £2B for each taxpayer. Mr Kinsella considered important pre-school education in play centres and kindergartens. He knew of children starting school with a very poor grasp of English, and these children were at a disadvantage from a start. It was in this sort of situation that pre-school education was of great value. Because of the growing importance of technicians he foresaw that technological institutes would play an even greater part in education than the universities. Already £loi million had been set aside for buildings for technological institutes over the next few years.

Teachers college buildings were also expected to cost £lO million in the next five years. Progress was startling where universities were concerned and about £56-£6O million would probably be spent on university buildings in the next five years, Mr Kinsella said.