TEACHERS' TRAINING COLLEGES TO CLOSE

Rotorua Morning Post, Volume 2, Issue 241, 1 June 1932, Page 5

TEACHERS' TRAINING COLLEGES TO CLOSE

wgton and dunedin CHRISTCHURCH AND AUCKLAND SUFFICIENT FOR NEEDS SAVING OF a. \i0,000 A YEAR ("Post" Special Commissioner.) WELLINGTON, Tuesday. The Minister o£ Education Hon. R. Masters, announced today that after very careful consideration, the Government had •decided to close the ' Wellington and Dunedin Teachers* Training Colleges at the end of the present year.

"In view of the financial depressioh prevailing in the' Dominion, it ha,s been"' necessary to. scrutinise very carefully every item, of public expediture," said the Minister. "The cost of education has already been considerahly reduced, anck -as opportunity .offers,

further .savings willTre eff ected. It will be remembered that one of the reeommendations of the National Expenditure Commission _ related to ' training colleges, and it was suggested that two of these, Wellington and Dunedin, should be closed. "After very eareful consideration of all the representations that had been made, the Government has decided that it is necessary in the in- • terests of economy, to close the two .institutions refefred to. The estimated saving will he approximately £10,000 per annum. The present surplus of teachers will make it unnecessary to admit the usua! number qf students to the training colleges for some years to come. Too Many Trainees "This year, the number of admissions was very much restrieted, and it is extremely unlikely that any new entrants will he taken next year. At present there are approximately 700 teachers unable to secure permanent appointment, and although a rationing scheme has been introduced to give a measure of relief, it is felt that further assistance should be given in the direction of a reduction on the number of trainees. Next year there will be a total enrolment of about 400 students. That is, 350 second year, and possibly 50 third year students, who are training to qualify as specialists. It is clear, therefore, that two training colleges will be ample for the needs of the service.

Newest Colleges Remain Auckland and Christchurch training eollege buildings are the newest and best equipped for the training of teachers, and these will therefore be retained with some adjustments in staff. The training eollege buildings vacated at Wellington and Dunedin will be used as soon as possible for other purposes, that is either for supplementing sehools, university accommodation, or for the housing of Govarnment departments for which rented buildings are at present needed. In a supplementary statement, Mr. Masters said that the urgent need for economy made it necessary to reduce the value of bursarieg^to training eollege students. He said the Government would allow all students bursaries to the value of £20 a year which would not he repaid. Those living away from home may receive an extra £30 but will have to pay this back in instalments on receiving an appointment. This system will operate from tbe start of the next training eollege year in February, 1933, and will apply to all students no matter what - their year of training.