Teacher training faces axe | Rotorua News | Local News in Rotorua

Rotorua primary school principals are horrified the main source of teacher training in Rotorua could soon be axed.

The University of Canterbury offers a Bachelor of Teaching and Learning (Primary) course through the Waiariki Institute of Technology but the programme could soon be shut down.

A spokesman for the university said a proposal looking at closing the course had been released for consultation but a final decision had not been reached. He said the proposal came about because the course was not attracting enough students.

Waiariki chief executive Pim Borren said he was trying to sort out a compromise to keep the programme running.

The programme, which has been running for 12 years, was originally introduced to Rotorua after local primary school principals desperately sought teacher training.

"It would be heartbreaking if it was closed down," he said.

If the programme was axed existing students would see out their training but there would be no new students.

Mr Borren said it would have a major impact on Rotorua's primary school industry if the programme was shut down.

Rotorua Principals Association president and Westbrook School principal Colin Watkins said local principals are gutted.

"It would be a real tragedy for Rotorua," he said.

Mr Watkins said he was one of many principals in Rotorua who regularly supported the programme.

On average, he said his school had about three Canterbury teaching students doing practical work at a time.

Local principals also help with the selection process, help with student placement at schools and also help third year students with CV preparation.

"It has a real strong local flavour," he said.

He said it was important for Rotorua to "grow our own expertise", meaning teachers are needed who know the region.

He said the programme worked because it catered to a wide range of people, particularly for young parents.

Students are able to work from home and then meet up at the campus and also have local schools available for practical training.

Mr Watkins said universities undervalued teacher training and unless the Ministry of Education put pressure on them, education would struggle in the future.

Otonga School principal Linda Woon is calling for community support to prevent the loss of the training.

"I am horrified and feel totally betrayed by Canterbury University," she said.

Mrs Woon said it had taken a huge amount of energy and perseverance to get quality teacher training in Rotorua.

"In the stroke of a pen it is threatened," she said.

Mrs Woon said she was concerned that students who went away to train would stay away to teach.

Student Monique Avery, who is doing the course, said the class was "a bit gutted" because it had been so convenient having the course in Rotorua.

Miss Avery said scrapping the course would mean taking the opportunity away from so many future students.