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(7) Development of Training of Post-primary Teachers The training of homecraft teachers and of teachers of woodwork and metalwork is being continued. The course for homecraft teachers, begun in 1943 and of three years' duration, has now been modified slightly to improve its effectiveness. Until the end of 1947, portion of the first year and the whole of the second year of the course were spent in one or other of a number of post-primary schools able to provide the necessary facilities for training. This arrangement did not prove particularly effective, as homecraft teachers already on the staffs of these schools were not able to devote a great deal of their time to the trainees. Arrangements were made during 1947 with the Auckland and Christchurch Technical Schools to take, during 1948, the full number of trainees in their second year, a total of 33. Seventeen of these go to Auckland and 16 to Christchurch. These two schools are co-operating well in this connection and the Department is able to assist by providing additional staffing and some additional accommodation. Thirty-five further homecraft trainees have been accepted for 1948. Including these, there are now 86 homecraft trainees in training, while 59 who commenced their courses in 1943, 1944, or 1945 have completed. The training course for woodwork and metalwork teachers initiated in Auckland in co-operation with Auckland Technical School at the beginning of 1946 was continued during 1947, and arrangements have been made for a further continuation during 1948. Fifteen woodwork and five metalwork instructors entered upon and completed the course in 1946, and a further 15 woodwork teachers and 9 metalwork teachers during 1947. Almost all of these have been already absorbed. A further 25 woodworkers and five metalworkers have been selected for 1948. Arrangements were made during 1947 for two further valuable additions to the scheme of post-primary teacher training. Hitherto there has been no training of commercial teachers. Now, however, arrangements have been made with Wellington Technical School to provide a course of one year during 1948, and 20 commercial teachers have already been selected for the course. The object of the course is to provide a fuller knowledge of the subjects book-keeping, commercial practice, shorthand, and typewriting for those trainees whose knowledge is inadequate, and for those who already have some knowledge of these subjects the opportunity to go further with their studies. At the same time, the course will include some knowledge of fundamental ideas concerning education and general teaching methods. Appropriate syllabuses are being drawn up in these subjects. All those trainees selected for the course have a knowledge either of book-keeping and commercial practice on the one hand, or of shorthand and typing on the other hand, and will be trained so that they have a reasonable knowledge of all these subjects. A further great advance has been made by the provision of post-primary teachers'" bursaries. In my report of last year I recommended the institution of some form of bursary for teachers selected for the post-primary service, pointing out that for postprimary teachers in general there is available only one year at Auckland Training College,, to which course only those teachers who have already obtained a degree are admitted,, and that most of these students have obtained their degree at their own expense. The,recommendation to Cabinet was for the award in 1947 of a number of post-primary teachers' bursaries not to exceed 40, with further awards of a number not exceeding Ithis in subsequent years. This recommendation, Cabinet approved. The bursaries are of a value of £7O, with an additional £4O if the student is required to live away from home in order to complete his University course, together with payment of tuition fees. The Department will control the University course which the bursar is undertaking. The period of the bursary will be a maximum of four years, and applicants, to be eligible for award, must have reached a standard at least equivalent to University Entrance..

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