Emergency Steps To Meet Teacher Shortage

Chronicle (Levin), 19 May 1949, Page 5

Emergency Steps To Meet Teacher Shortage

^ — AUCKLAND, May 18! Steps to meet the present shortage of teachers throughout New Zealand, inclnding au emergenev training plan, the eai'lv certification of probationary assistauts and the greater use of parttime teachers, have been decided upon bv the Fducationa Department. Measures to put the new scheme into operation in the Auckland dis+rict were taken bv the Education Board today. The Department stated that it, was with reluctance that it had decided to introduce a scheme for early certifica-j tion. All 1949 proabtionary assistants are to be advised that "thev may now npply for immediate certification and this will be granted if a senior inspector recommends it. As soon as an assistant is certified he or she will beeome eligible for superanumerary ein])lnyment and be required to aecept a post as a relieving teacher anywheff in the Dominion. He will be given ^ provisional grading whieh will be revised at the end of the year. Tt is proposed to fill the vacancies left as a result of the early certification scheme, by second year Training College students who are able to obtain a recominendation from a principal for the C examination and probationary assistance service. These students will sorve two terms as probationary assistant and then beeome eligible for certificalion on the recommendation of a senior inspector. Tlie plan to make widGr use of parttime teachers will, as far as the Auckland Board is eoncerned, be confined mainlv to country sehools. A eondition of engagement will be that the teacher must attend regularly either in the mornings or afternoons on ever-y day of the sehool week. Details of the emergency training scheme are to be announced shortly by the Minister of Education, Mr. MeCombs. It was stated today that present stalf shortage difficulties are particularly acute in country sehools. A large nnmber of vacancies for women asistants, mainly in two and threeteacher sehools, has been advertised on several occasions without attracting applieants, and many country sehools are undferstaffed because no relieving teachers are available.