E.—2

16

Primary Teachers in Public Schools.

The percentage of certificated teachers shows no increase, although it is reported that the recent provisions for using the graded list of teachers as the basis of making appointments and promotions is beginning to have a salutory effect in the direction of instigating uncertificated teachers to improve their status. The fact that the shortage-of qualified teachers is now becoming less acute will also make it possible to bring pressure to bear upon teachers who are not attempting to improve their qualifications. If the teachers of schools with an attendance of twenty and under are excluded the percentage of certificated, teachers becomes 81. The London County Council employs 20,000 certificated teachers and only 300 uncertificated teachers, so that it must be admitted that there is room for improvement in the average standard of attainment among New Zealand teachers. Of those holding certificates, 47 per cent, do not hold anything higher than a D certificate, which represents the lowest possible attainment that a teacher should have reached. This number is happily 2 per cent, lower than it was in the previous year. The following table shows the number of teachers holding the various certificates in 1919 and 1920: —

Classes of Certificates held by Primary-school Teachers.

Training of Teachers. (Tables E5-E7.) Training Colleges. There are four training colleges situated in the four principal centres of the Dominion, which are open to four classes of students, as follows : Division A, ex-pupil-teachers, ex-probationers, or ex-trainees of recognized kindergarten schools who have obtained the necessary educational qualification; Division B, other students who have passed Matriculation or obtained a higher leaving-certificate ; Division C, University graduates admitted for one year; and Division D, teachers entering on short-period studentships. The numbers of students in attendance during the last quarter of 1920 under the various divisions were —Division A, 590; Division B, 67 ; Division C, 12 ; and Division D, 11 : the total being 680, as compared with 582 in 1919 and 500 in 1918 ; 387 students were first-year students and 293 were second-year students.

191 Number. 1918. 1919. 1920. Percentage. Number. Percentage. Number. P f r ' oentage. I. Certificated teachers .. 3,426 71 3,577 72 3,703 72 1. Uncertificated teachers — (1.) Holding licenses (2.) Unlicensed 107 1,285 2 27 122 1,301 2 26 86 1,386 2 26 Total uncertificated 1,392 1,392 29 1,423 28 1,472 28 Totals of I and II.. 4,818 4,818 100 5,000 100 5,175 100

1919. 1920. Class of Certificate. M. E. Total. M. E. Total. 38 186 622 419 38 8 64 885 1,102 215 46 250 1,507 1,521 253 42 209 659 427 29 10 77 970 1,079 201 52 286 1,629 1,506 230 E Total 1,303 2,274 3,577 1,366 2,337 3,703