Teacher Shortage: New Scheme Criticised

Chronicle (Levin), 20 May 1949, Page 6

Teacher Shortage: New Scheme Criticised

Press Association)

(Per

WELLINGTON, May 19. Goncern at the deeision to invita probationary assistant teachers to apply for immediate certificatjon and to replaee them by second year Training College students, was expressed by the president of the New Zealand Institute, Mr. D. M. Jillett, today. "When the Minister of Education spoke of the teacher shortage at our annual meeting last week, ' ; Mr. Jillett. said, "he explained that this step wjpuld be taken only as the last report and he hoped the success of the appeal to be made to fofmer teachers to 'return 'to the serviee, would make it utmecessary. This appeal 'has only just be;en launched and it will- be; at •least two, months before it£ results cau be gauged. The Auckland, Board 'a , deeision is therefore preinature." - Mr. J illett said it meant that trainees ! would have only oue term as probationary assistants instead of tbree and Training College 'students who replaced them would have only two years training instead of three before being certificated. This was unfair both 10 the trainees and to the children they would be expected to teach. . Until.all other avenues have been explored, the teachers already in the primary serviee would rather continue to carry the bur-: den of ' the present shortage than acquiesce in a scheme whieh so drastieally reduced the period of teacher training. . ' F