A—3

Film-strip projectors are being used successfully in the outer island schools. On Rarotonga 16 mm. educational films are regularly shown in all villages. Teachers give introductory lessons on the film topics and the programmes are screened at night before an audience of children and adults. These performances, in addition to their educational value, provide a means of bringing parents, children, and school authorities together in a common interest. D. Curriculum Manual training, domestic science, agriculture, homecrafts, sewing, and hygiene are taught in the schools. On Rarotonga manual training has been introduced by a Maori teacher who had earlier completed an observation and training course of six months in New Zealand, and it is being extended to outer island schools. A resident Manual Training Instructor has been appointed from New Zealand to Rarotonga. Domestic science, including lessons on cooking and homecraft, is taught on Rarotonga, and sewing-machines for instructional purposes have been distributed throughout schools during the year. Much progress has been made in the teaching of the vernacular and of Maori culture. Regular instruction is given in the Maori language, and English lessons are given as part of the syllabus. The first issue of the vernacular school journal, Te Tuatua Apii ote Kuki Airani, has been distributed, and has been received with popularity by the children and adults within the Group, and with acclaim by educational authorities in New Zealand and elsewhere. It is planned to publish six numbers of this journal each school year. The duties of the recently appointed Organizing Teacher include work on the development of the vernacular in schools and the production of a simple Maori grammar for the guidance of teachers. A complete dictionary of the Cook Islands vernacular is being published and will prove invaluable to students of the language. E. Higher Education Land has been acquired and plans finalized for a post-primary school at Tereora, Rarotonga, but construction has not yet commenced. As an interim measure a special class for the 1950 school year has been assembled, and met for the first time on 13th February. The class, consisting of twenty-four pupils under fifteen years of age selected by competitive examination from the various schools of Rarotonga and Lower Group islands, is at present accommodated in a class-room at Avarua School. Excellent progress has already been made, and by the beginning of 1951 the pupils will be at a New Zealand secondary-school level. Afternoon classes for Maori teachers have been held twice weekly by the European Head Teachers during the year. Of the forty candidates who presented themselves for the Cook Island Teachers' Certificate Examination, seven obtained full passes ; and of sixty-six candidates, thirty-three teachers passed the Student Teachers' Examination. The Education Officer has visited Aitutaki, Atiu, Mauke, and Mangaia to conduct teachers' examinations. An art refresher course conducted by the Supervisor of Arts and Crafts in New Zealand Schools was held in Rarotonga in April. The Government scholarship scheme has been continued during the year. Four boys were sent to New Zealand secondary schools, making the total sent nineteen since the inception of the scheme at the commencement of the 1946 school year. Two teachers sant to New Zealand for six months' observation work and training under the Government scheme have now returned to the Group. One has taken up the appointment of Assistant Maori Supervisor, while the other has taken charge of his school at Atiu and has introduced manual-training instruction there in addition to his normal teaching duties.

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