E.—2

18

The amounts paid to Education Boards in 1919-20 and 1920-21 for the training of teachers were as follows : — I. Training colleges— 1919-20. 1920-21. Salaries of staffs (two-fifths charged to public-school £ £ salaries) .. .. .. .. .. 21,418 20,478 Cost-of-living bonus .. .. .. .. .. 1,330 Students' allowances and University fees .. .. 56,967 89,156 Special instruction, libraries, and incidentals .. 1,420 1,027 Buildings, sites, and equipment .. .. .. 3,344 11,694 —— 83,149 123,685 11. Other training— Grants for special instruction in certificate subjects of teachers other than training-college students .. 3,162 3,987 Railway fares of teachers .. .. .. 2,759 2,013 5,921 6,000 Totals .. .. .. .. £89,070 £129,685 Provision for Uncertificated Teachers. Apart from the provision for training colleges, a sum of £6,000, as shown above, was expended upon the maintenance of training-classes, railway fares, and upon correspondence courses for uncertificated teachers. The purposes for which the grants were made were : — (a.) Saturday instruction classes in such subjects as science, drawing, singing, and handwork, attended by pupil-teachers, probationers, uncertificated teachers, and certificated teachers studying for a higher certificate. (b.) Special summer and winter schools of instruction for untrained and uncertificated teachers. (c.) Free correspondence classes are arranged by Education Boards for country teachers or alternatively the fees of teachers who join approved correspondence classes are paid. As the Department has not been entirely satisfied with the provision for and administration of this work the subject is at present receiving attention, and regulations for the future conduct of this branch of teachers' training are being drawn up. Supplementary Model Country Schools. Regulations were made at the end of 1920 providing for the establishment of supplementary model country schools for the purpose of giving training in the management of a country school (a) to young persons who intend to become teachers but are ineligible to enter a training college, (b) to teachers requiring further training. Only teachers who have shown special skill in managing a country school may be placed in charge of a model school of this type, and they will receive special remuneration. Teachers being trained in the school receive their full salary and other young persons receive an allowance. Several Education Boards are at present experimenting under this scheme, but it is as yet too early to report upon its success or otherwise. Organizing Teachers. The employment by Education Boards of organizing teachers, begun in 1919, was continued in 1920, twenty-six such teachers working in the various education districts. Their duty is to supervise closely the work of small groups of country schools placed under their charge, assisting the teachers in matters of organization, schemes of work, and method of teaching, and directing uncertificated teachers in their courses of study. Inspectors of Schools report very favourably on the success of the scheme, commenting on the marked improvement in the efficiency of small schools brought under this supervision. An extension of the system is advocated in districts where numbers of country schools are still unreached. The salaries of organizing teachers range from £370 to £430 per annum, in addition to which a house allowance of £60 per annum is payable. Grading of Teachers. The fourth revision of the graded list of certificated teachers has taken place, and the regulations for the grading of teachers again amended in certain directions.