A.—i

4

Pebcentages of Teachees holding Ceetificates of each Division at July, 1879, and at June, 1897; 12 3 4 5 1879 ... ... ... ... 7-34 27-24 3965 24-03 1-74 1897 ... ... ... ... 21-43 32-89 28-02 16-03 2-64 Numbee of Teachees holding Ceetificates of each Rank at July, 1879, and at June, 1897. 1879. 1897. AI 6 A2andßl ... ... ... ... ... ... 6 51 A3, 82, and CI ... ... ... ... ... ... 24 109 A 4, 83, C 2, and DI ... ... ... ... ... 54 305 A 5, 84, C3,D 2, and El ... ... ... ... ... 99 533 85, C 4, D 3, and E2 159 662 CS,D 4, andE3 ... ... ... ... ... ... 249 460 DsandE4 ... ... ... :.. ... ... 148 184 E5 ... ... ... ... ... ... ... 10 42 Totals of all ranks ... ... ... ... 749 2,352 Pupil-teachers form part of the staff in all but the very smallest schools. They receive instruction in the subjects of the Class E and Class D certificate examinations from the head teacher of the school out of school-hours. The term of apprenticeship is usually five years, of which two may be remitted to successful candidates at the Class D or matriculation examinations. Pupilteachers are expected to sit for their certificate examinations in their fifth year at latest. Their remuneration ranges from about £20 to about £50 a year. There are now two training-colleges in the colony, maintained: one by the North Canterbury Education Board, at Christchurch, and the other by the Otago Board, at Dunedin. There is at each of these towns a college affiliated to the New Zealand University, and the Boards grant exhibitions to matriculated normal students attending college lectures. Exhibitions of £26, £30, and £50 a year for one or for two years are granted to pupil-teachers that have served their full term and passed their examinations creditably. A student that has not been a pupil-teacher must either pay fees at the rate of £12 or £20 a year for tuition, or must give a bond with sureties for £100 to teach for two years in the public schools of the colony after leaving the college. A similar bond is required of exhibitioners. The salaries of the teachers are fixed by the Boards, each of which has its own scale of payment. The amount of a teacher's salary depends mainly on the size of the school and on his position in it; also, to some extent, on his classification. A dwelling for the head teacher is provided at about two schools out of three. There is no provision for the superannuation of teachers, nor do they become entitled to pensions. The schools are open to all children between the ages of five and fifteen, and attendance is compulsory from seven to thirteen. It is left to the discretion of each School Committee to enforce in its own district the compulsory clauses of the Act. The instruction is entirely secular, though religious instruction may, with the consent of the Committee, be given in the school-building out of school-hours. The subjects of instruction are reading, writing, arithmetic, English grammar and composition, geography, history, object-lessons and elementary science, drawing, vocal music, and, for girls, needlework and domestic economy. Military drill for boys is prescribed by the Act; and physical training is given to both boys and girls wherever efficient instructors are available. [The regulations for the inspection of schools, with the standards of examination, will be found on pages 64 to 83 of the accompanying pamphlet.] The following is a comparison of the population and schools, &c, of the colony at December, 1877, and at December, 1897 :— 1877. 1897. Population, exclusive of Maoris ... ... ... 417,622 729,056 Public primary schools ... ... ... ... 730 1,585 Children on the school rolls ... ... ... ... 55,688 132,197 Teachers, male ... ... ... ... ... 648 1,229 Teachers, female ... ... ... ... ... 449 1,322 Pupil-teachers, male ... ... ... ... 82 226 Pupil-teachers, female ... ... ... ... 221 850 Sewing-mistresses ... ... ... ... ... 82 183 Total teaching staff... ... ... ... ... 1,482 3,810 Inspectors ... ... ... ... ... 10 25 Of the 132,197 children on the school rolls in 1897, 68,459 were boys and 63,738 girls; the numbers for 1877 are not recorded, but the numbers for 1878 are 34,149 and 31,217. The salaries of the teachers, pupil - teachers, and sewing-mistresses at the end of 1897 amounted to £359,412. This sum divided equally among the, teachers of all classes would give an average of £94 6s. Bd. If the sewing-mistresses and their salaries were not included, the average would be higher. The number of teachers, pupil-teachers, and Sewing-mistresses employed at salaries under £100 was 2,239. At salaries from £100 (inclusive) to £200 there were 1,264 teachers ; from £200 (inclusive) to £300, 238 ; from £300 to £400, £62; and from £400 upwards, 7. In addition to the numbers already given, there were 2,260 children, being 1,294 boys and 966 girls, of the Maori or aboriginal race, including half-castes, in attendance at the public schools in 1897. There were also seventy-four village schools maintained and. controlled by the Education Department for the benefit of the Maoris in places where no public schools have been established