19

E.—l

It is satisfactory to note that the total increase in the number of certificated teachers is due to a great extent to the increase in the number of certificates of the higher classes. There is a very large increase in the number of certificated teachers of the three highest classes during the last seven years. Whereas the total number of teachers employed has increased in that time by only 24 per cent., the number holding A, B, or C certificates has increased tenfold, by 240 per cent. This increase is so far most marked in the case of C certificate holders, but it is anticipated that when the provision in the University bursary regulations, by which holders of C certificates may be awarded bursaries, becomes more widely known, there will be a steady increase in the number of graduates in the teaching profession, and incidentally in the number of holders of A and B certificates. Training of Teachers. (See also E.-2, Appendix D. Tallies PI to P6.) The four training colleges in the four centres of population had their full complement of students in attendance during the year. Of the 398 students in attendance during the last quarter, 357 (Division A students) had completed their course as pupil-teachers or probationers before entrance to the colleges, and eight had obtained University degrees. Of the remainder, twenty-nine had qualified for admission by passing the Matriculation or some higher University examination, but were without previous teaching experience (Division B students), and four were admitted under the special provisions for teachers of small schools whose qualification is incomplete. These numbers show an increase of 7 - 7 per cent, in the number of Division A students admitted during the year. Of the Division B students the number for whom room has been found is still notably small, and probably those asking admission who are not already provided for by means of a pupil-teacher or probationer course must in any case necessarily be few. Of the total of 398 students, 113 were men and 258 were women. The following table indicates the percentages for the past three years : — Percentages of Male and Female Students. Males. Females. For the year 1910 .. .. .. .. 31-32 68-68 1911 .. .. .. .. 33-67 66-33 1912 .. .. .. .. 28-39 71-61 The ordinary course of training is for two years, so that approximately 200 students annually complete their training and pass into the schools. Most of these are very quickly absorbed, and later in the year new vacancies still continue to exceed the supply. To meet the demand an amendment in the regulations for training colleges has now been made, raising the limit of attendance from 100 to 125 students in each case, while a further step has been taken in the extension of probationer appointments—the main source of future supply. The increase gives better opportunities for those to come in who have not served as pupil-teachers or probationers, but who are otherwise eligible as students. At the same time, but as a purely temporary measure only to meet immediate needs, permission has been given by regulation to the education authorities controlling the training colleges to admit at their discretion a certain proportion of the students for a course of training of one year only. Except in the case of graduates or persons of similar status, so short a course as one year cannot be recommended, nor can it in any sense be considered complete ; but as the permission is confined to a limited number of entrants who have already served in the school as pupil-teachers or probationers, many of whom doubtless are only too anxious to enter upon permanent positions as teachers with as little delay as possible, circumstances appear to warrant recourse to the expedient. So far, only one of the colleges appears to have made use of the permission, and that it should have a much wider application is not particularly desired. The more regular outflow from the colleges of two-year students out of the increased number for which provision is now made, together with the customary supplementary accessions from other sources to the ranks of teachers in the Dominion, must soon prove sufficient to meet ordinary requirements. That the supply would be sufficient, however, to meet exceptional demands arising out of the increased staffing of schools for which statutory authority has already been obtained