19

E.—l

Applicants foe Probationerships. In 1928 the number of qualified applicants for entrance to the teaching service as probationers far exceeded the number of probationerships. The Education Boards were therefore again able to select for appointment young people with high academic attainments. Sixty per cent, of those appointed as probationers in 1928 had higher leaving certificates or a full pass in the Teachers' Class D Examination, and 39 per cent, had either passed the Matriculation Examination, secured a partial pass in the Class 1) Examination, or held lower leaving certificates. There were 953 applications received in 1928 from young persons desirous of receiving appointment as probationers. Seven hundred and fifty-two of these applicants had the minimum educational qualification necessary for appointment and passed the required medical examination. It was possible, however, to find positions for only 582 of the applicants thus qualified. Supply of Teachers. During the past two or three years the supply of teachers has exceeded the Dominion's requirements. This position has arisen in consequence of the admissions to the teachers' training colleges being increased for the dual purpose of replacing untrained and uncertificated teachers by trained certificated teachers, and of supplementing school staffs in order that the number of large classes might be reduced. Unfortunately for the latter project, sufficient public funds have not been available to increase the school accommodation to the extent required for the breaking-up of large classes. Notwithstanding this, however, considerable progress has been made by the appointment of a large number of additional assistants. The number of uncertificated teachers has also been very substantially reduced. When, however, these teachers became aware of the intention to supersede them they made every effort to increase their status and as a consequence were able to retain their positions. Eor these reasons the supply of teachers has somewhat exceeded the demand. In 1925, however, the Department took charge of the supply of teachers by controlling the number of entrants to the training colleges. The subjoined tables indicate the nature of the calculations that were made. It is too early yet for the full effect of the "restriction to be felt, since the teachers admitted to the service in any particular year do not become available for permanent staff needs until the fifth year thereafter, the period intervening being filled by one year's probationary service, two years at training college, and one final probationary year. It will thus be seen that the accuracy of the estimate made in 1925 cannot be checked until the year 1930. It is confidently anticipated that the restriction now placed by the Department on the number of probationer entrants appointed by the Education Boards, together with the gradual strengthening of school staffs, will have the effect in the near future of entirely doing away with unemployment among teachers, provided, of course, young teachers will go wherever their services are required. This has not always been the case in the past, and Boards have experienced considerable difficulty in persuading some of the ex-training-college students to accept appointments in remote country districts. In fact, this reluctance to accept country service partly explains why some young teachers remain unemployed.

Table I.—Plan made in 1925.

Pupil-teachers or Probationers. Training College. Student Permanent Year. Assistants. Staff. First Year. Second Year. First Year. Second Year. 1925 . .. .. *357 *654 *620 *33. *640 1926 .. ... 400 500 "^725^^^^653 1927 .. .. 700. 700 200 1928 .. 700 . . * 7>^i * Numbers as at present. t Any loss through pupil-teachers and probationers not qualifying will be made up by the admission of B students. Note also that C and D students, being very few, are not counted. 1 Any number in excess of ordinary staff requirements will be absorbed in reducing the size of classes.