Catalogue description Board of Education, University Branch, and Ministry of Education, Teachers Branch: Teachers Joint Examination Boards, Registered Files (R Series)

Alphabetical order of names of joint boards.

Teacher training college authorities were invited by the Board of Education to form regional groups associated with local universities, for the establishment of Joint Examination Boards to devise and conduct the final examination for students in academic subjects. The examination, which qualified students for recognition as certificated teachers, was previously conducted by the Board of Education who continued to be responsible for testing the capacity of students in practical teaching.

The decision, foreshadowed in circular 1372 dated 11 January 1925, was based on the recommendations of the Departmental Committee on the Training of Teachers for Public Elementary Schools 1925, as a further development in the co-operation of universities with training colleges. It gave the colleges a greater measure of autonomy, with the opportunity to relate the examination more closely to the needs of particular colleges, or groups of colleges than was possible under a single authority.

Initially five joint-boards held examinations in 1929, the remaining boards becoming operative in 1930 and continuing until their responsibilities were progressively handed over to the newly appointed Area Training Organisations (Institutes of Education), transference being completed by 1950.

The Board of Education, under Circular 1408 dated 20 August 1930, appointed a Central Advisory Committee for the Certification of Teachers consisting of representatives of the various bodies concerned with the training and recognition of teachers, to maintain a general survey over the examinations conducted by the joint boards and to advise the Board of Education upon questions arising thereon.