IMPERIAL EDUCATION CONFERENCE. CONDITIONS OF RECOGNITION, CLASSI- IN THE SELF-GOVERNING DOMINIONS. COMMONWEALTH OF AUSTRALIA LONDON: PRINTED & PUBLISHED BY HIS MAJESTY'S STATIONERY OFFICE 1 St. Andrew's Crescent, Cardiff; or 120 George Street, Edinburgh. Price 8s. 6d. Net. The statements contained in this volume have been furnished by the respective Education Departments of the Commonwealth in connection with the Imperial Education Conference, 1923. 3 NEW SOUTH WALES. STATEMENT AS TO THE RECOGNITION, CLASSIFICATION, AND PAYMENT OF TEACHERS IN NEW SOUTH WALES. I. CLASSIFICATION OF TEACHERS (PRIMARY SCHOOLS). Teachers of Primary Schools are divided into three classes, I., II., and III., each class being subdivided into two grades, A and B. There are, in addition to teachers classified in this. way, a number of teachers ranked as "Unclassified and as "Junior Teachers." Teachers in Primary Schools are accordingly comprised in the following divisions: Class IA. Class IB. Class IIA. " Class IIB. Class IIIA. Class IIIB. Unclassified Teachers. Junior Teachers. II. GENERAL CONDITIONS. Before being permanently appointed in any of these capacities persons are required to give satisfactory evidence of good character and physical fitness, ability to teach and literary attainments. Except in the case of teachers whose qualifications have been obtained outside the State, and certain teachers of special subjects, all candidates for appointment as teachers must have satisfactorily completed a course of training at the Teachers' College. The pupil teacher system, which was in existence for many years, has been abolished, and the first step which can now be taken by candidates desirous of entering the service of the Department as teachers is the competitive examination, open to young persons of not less than 17 or 18 (according to the length of course undertaken), success in which leads to admission to the Teachers' College. Students not less than 16 years of age may also be admitted with a view to appointment as Junior Teachers after taking the one-year course (see below). Persons from other countries, or outside the State service, seeking admission to the service of the Department, and holding certificates or other recognised evidence of qualification as teachers, may, after due inquiry and test of fitness, be admitted as unclassified teachers, or assistants, or as second or third-class (8711) Wt. 26278/3646A/1403 500 6/23 Harrow G.31 A 2 teachers, or assistant teachers, provided that the Department has need for their services. Any such teacher, when appointed, holds the status of an unclassified teacher or assistant, or of an ex-student of the College, or assistant, of the class and grade which the Director of Education determines. Before appointment as teachers of any rank, candidates are required to state in writing their willingness to accept employment in any part of the State at any period of their service. III. COURSES AT THE TEACHERS' COLLEGE. The ordinary course is a two years' course, qualifying for a Class II. Certificate and for teaching in the various classes of the Primary and Infant Schools, but the College also provides other kinds of courses of shorter and longer period qualifying for other classes of certificates. The complete list of courses is as follows:(1) One-year course, provisionally qualifying for Class IIIA. Certificate and for appointment as teacher in small country schools or assistant in country schools. (2) One-year course for graduates in Arts or Science of a recognised University. This course is exclusively professional, and provisionally qualifies for a Class IIA. Certificate. (3) Two-year course, provisionally qualifying for Class IIA. The above-named are the highest classifications that can be obtained as a result of the respective courses, but in practice many students obtain a lower classification. For example, a student may undergo a two years' course and only gain a IIIA. Certificate. General Conditions of Admission and Classification. Admission.-Candidates for admission to the Teachers' College must produce satisfactory evidence as to character and previous history. Candidates successful at the examination must provide a satisfactory medical certificate before admission. The qualification for admission to the two-year course is either (i) the Leaving Certificate,* or (ii) an equivalent examination, or (iii) the University Matriculation Examination. In general students who have not passed in History, Geography, and Drawing are required to qualify in those subjects before classification. The qualification for admission to the short one-year course is either (i) the Leaving Certificate,* or (ii) the Intermediate Certificate*, or (iii) a pass at an examination equivalent to or * See Appendix for details. higher than (i) or (ii), or (iv) a pass at a special examination that may be prescribed for the purpose. Priority of admission is given to those who hold the qualifications (i) or (ii), provided that 15 per cent. of the Scholarships are reserved for applicants who take the Special Entrance Examination* and show a satisfactory standard of qualifications. The Teachers' College, situated within the grounds of the University of Sydney, provides accommodation for 300 students. The majority of the places are reserved for those students who have been through the preparatory courses in High Schools, but 20 are set apart each year for those who desire to obtain a training for the teaching profession, either under the Department or in the private schools and colleges of the State. The latter arrangement furnishes an excellent opportunity to students who have received a good education in Higher Primary or Secondary Schools to gain the necessary professional training for a teaching career. The main conditions of entrance to any one of these 20 places are that the candidate shall be at least 17 years old and shall show by examination or by certificates held by him that he possesses the necessary attainments to profit by the course of training. If the number of applicants in any one year exceeds 20, the examination is necessarily competitive. The fee to be paid by candidates admitted to these 20 places is £15 a year, payable in advance; but the fee may be paid at the rate of £3 15s. quarterly in advance if this is more convenient to the candidate. While this fee is charged, some important advantages are open to this class of College student. He is under no obligation to enter the Department's service-as has been stated, he may obtain employment elsewhere; but if, at the conclusion of his course of training, he becomes an accepted applicant for an appointment in one of the State Schools, a refund of the fees paid in connection with his training will be made to him, provided that he enters into a bond to serve the Department for three years. Again, to students of this class who enter the College with the expressed purpose of entering the State service, a certain number of scholarshipsusually five—are made available. Holders of these scholarships become entitled to exemption from the fee above stated, to a grant of the necessary text-books, and to an allowance of £50 a year. If they are obliged to live away from home while attending the College, an additional £30 per annum is granted. In consideration of the scholarship, they are placed under a bond to serve the Department for three years from the conclusion of their training. Three scholarships are assigned annually to the longer course at the College for competition among those students who have already passed through the short course. The selection is based on-(a) College record, and (b) teaching record. Scholarships for the course of training as teachers of Cookery are awarded on the same terms as in the case of other College students described above. *See Appendix for details. |