E.—l

20

The salaries of teachers in training colleges were increased in 1915, especially those in the lower grades, and the staffs were strengthened by the addition of certain positions. The Principals of the training colleges welcome the improvementfthus made in the teaching strength of the colleges, and it is reasonable to assume that the higher rates of salary now payable to the normal school staffs will make it possible to obtain the services of superior teachers where they are most required. Much information in regard to the courses of instruction taken by students at the training colleges, and of the status of students, may be obtained from the tables appearing in Appendix D of E.-2. It will be sufficient to note here that at the beginning of the two-years course 2 students held Class C certificates and 91 Class D certificates, and at the end of the course 5 held Class B certificates, 97 Class C certificates, and 60 Class D certificates. The amounts paid to Education Boards in 1914-15 and 1915-16 for the training of teachers were as follows i — I. Training colleges— 1914-15. 1915-16. Salaries of staffs (half charged to public-school £ £ £ £ salaries in 1914-15 ; two-fifths in 1915-16) 8,096 12,700 Students' allowances and University fees ... 23,339 25,858 Special instruction ... ... ... 1,471 1,106 Buildings, sites, and equipment ... ... 5,007 6,081 37,913 45,745 11. Other training— Grants for special instruction in certificate subjects, including science, agriculture, and handwork, of teachers other than trainingcollege students ... ... ... 3,050 2,355 Railway fares of teachers and instructors ... 6,249 5,944 Sundries ... ... ... ... 5 16 9,304 8,315 £47,217 £54,060 Less recoveries ... ... ... 34 Totals ... ... ... £47,217 £54,026 It will be observed that the increase of nearly £7,000 in the expenditure is largely due to improved salaries and to an increase of £2,500 in the expenditure on students' fees and allowances. It should be noted, however, that there has also been an alteration in the allocation of the amount expended in teachers' salaries, three-fifths instead of one-half the amount now being made chargeable to Training Colleges. Uncertificated \ Teachers. Apart from the provisions for training colleges, a grant of £3,275 was made last year to Education Boards for the maintenance of training classes for teachers. The purposes for which the grant was applied were — (1.) Central classes for the direct personal tuition of uncertificated teachers (exclusive of pupil-teachers and probationers) in subjects required for the D certificate. (2.) Tuition and training subjects' /of f teachers (exclusive of pupil-teachers and probationers) by means of correspondence classes under the control of Education Boards, in cases | gin which it is found highly inconvenient to bring teachers to classes. IfUnder this heading, however, no correspondence classes in science subjects are recognized unless the Board makes adequate provision ! for practical work. (3.) Courses of practical work in physical and natural science, in subjects of manual instruction other than those usually taught by special instructors, in vocal music, and in drawing. In the distribution of the grant the amounts allotted eleven Education Boards varied from £100 in one small district to £800 in the largest. Two Education Boards did not participate in the grant. Finances of|*Education Boards. (See also E— 2, Tables F 1 to F 10.) The table on the next two pages is a summary of the income and expenditure, and of the assets and liabilities, of the various Education Boards for the calendar year 1915. Full information for each district can be obtained on reference to Appendix A of E.-2, or to Tables Fl and F2 published in the same report.