Collection 2116 - Bathurst Teachers' College [BTC] alumni donations

The Bathurst Teachers' College was established on the site of the Bathurst Experiment Farm. The first students commenced their training on the 12 March 1951, although the College was not officially opened until 9 November 1951 (1).
The curriculum of the College qualified students for primary school teaching. In addition to further tuition in the primary school syllabus, there was teaching in education and health which were professional rather than pedagogical requirements (2). Initially the course was of two years duration after which the students were awarded a Teachers' Certificate by the Education Department. This was a Certificate of Attainment (3).
In 1968 the course was increased in length to three years (4).
In 1969 the Higher Education Act heralded the beginning of Colleges of Advanced Education (5). The Bathurst Teachers' College was chosen as the site for the Mitchell College of Advanced Education. It was formally closed on 31 December 1969 and became the School of Teacher Education in the Mitchell College of Advanced Education (6).

Footnotes and References:
(1) The Story of Three Colleges: a history of the Bathurst Government Reserve, Racecourse, Experiment Farm School, Teachers' College and Mitchell College of Advanced Education, p.80
(2) Ibid p.91
(3) Ibid p.90-91
(4) Ibid p.91
(5) Ibid p.151
(6) Ibid p.153