XN000022-1975-05-28 — Page 7

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WEDNESDAY, MAY 28, 975.

ENROLMENT FOR COLLEGES OF EDUCATION

BEGINS AT THE END OF JUNE

X X X X X X

THE THREE COLLEGES OF EDUCATION WILL BEGIN INVITING APPLICATIONS FOR· ADMISSION AT THE END OF JUNE.

THERE ARE MORE THAN 1,640 FIRST, SECOND AND THIRD YEAR STUDENTS NOW UNDER TRAINING AT THE COLLEGES.

IT IS PLANNED THAT THE NUMBER OF SUCH FULL-TIME STUDENTS WILL BE JUST OVER 1,620 IN THE NEXT ACADEMIC YEAR BEGINNING IN SEPTEMBER,+ THE ASSISTANT DIRECTOR OF EDUCATION (FURTHER), MR. WILLIAM FISHER- SHORT SAID TODAY.

HE EXPLAINED THAT THE NUMBERS OF FULL-TIME STUDENTS BEING TRAINED AS TEACHERS HAD DEEN INCREASED SINCE 1972 IN ORDER TO PROVIDE THE NUMBER OF TEACHERS REQUIRED IF THE WHITE PAPER WERE TO BE IMPLEMENTED IN 1976. BUT WITH THE POSTPONEMENT OF THE WHITE PAPER, IT IS CLEARLY NECESSARY TO REDUCE THE NUMBER OF STUDENT TEACHERS UNDER TRAINING IF AN OUTPUT THAT EXCEEDS THE REQUIREMENT IS TO BE AVOIDED.

HOWEVER, AS THE THIRD YEAR COURSES ARE BEING EXPANDED IT HAS PROVED POSSIBLE TO STABILISE THE ENROLMENTS IN THE COLLEGES AND REDUCE THE OUTPUT OF TEACHERS PARTICULARLY AT THE PRIMARY LEVEL.

+THE GENERAL EFFECT OF ALL THESE CHANGES HAS BEEN TO REDUCE THE ANTICIPATED REQUIREMENTS FOR THE PRIMARY SECTOR BELOW THOSE EXPECTED IN 1972 WHEN POLICY WAS ORIGINALLY SET AND THE NUMBERS REQUIRED FOR THE PUBLIC SECTOR AT SECONDARY LEVEL WHILE CONTINUING TO EXPAND MODESTLY WILL NOT INCREASE AS ANTICIPATED UNTIL FULL IMPLEMENTATION OF THE WHITE PAPER PROPOSALS IS UNDER WAY, MR. FISHER-SHORT SAID.

HE ADDED; THEREFORE THE REDUCTION IN FIRST YEAR INTAKES INTO THE COLLEGES OF EDUCATION IS A REALISTIC ADJUSTMENT TO CHANGED CIRCUMSTANCES PARTICULARLY AT PRIMARY LEVEL, WHILE THE INCREASE AT THIRD YEAR LEVEL IS AN EQUALLY REALISTIC ADJUSTMENT TO THE MODESTLY INCREASING SECONDARY SECTOR, AND COURSES CAN BE EXPECTED TO ENROL MORE STUDENTS AS SECONDARY EXPANSION GATHERS MOMENTUM. +

+IT WILL BE OBSERVED THAT THE NUMBERS TO BE ADMITTED TO I.C.T.T. COURSES SHOW A DECREASE. THIS IS BECAUSE THERE NO LONGER EXISTS A SIGNIFICANT PROBLEM OF TRAINING IN THE PUBLIC SECTOR AT EITHER PRIMARY OR SECONDARY LEVELS.

+THE TRAINING PROVIDED IS THEREFORE ESSENTIALLY TO BENEFIT THE PRIVATE SECTOR. WITH REGARD TO THE PRIVATE PRIMARY SECTOR, DEMAND HERE IS DECLINING IN LINE WITH DECREASING ENROLMENTS.

+THE NUMBERS UNDER TRAINING FOR THE SECONDARY PRIVATE SECTOR ARE ADJUSTED TO MEET REALISTICALLY THE ANNUAL FLOW OF DEMAND.

/+GENERALLY

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