Appendix B.]

E.—2.

Schools and, Attendance. Nineteen schools were closed and twenty opened or reopened, so that at the end of the year there were in operation 257 schools. The following lignres show the average roll and average attendance' for the: years J920 and 1921 : — Average Average Roll Number. Attendance). Fear 1921 .. .. .. .. .. .. 25,549 23.275 Year 1920 . , .. .. .. .. .. 24,760 21.612 Increase .. .. .. .. 789 1,633 The; average attendance was 91 per cent. e>f the average roll, a welcome improvement of 3-5 per cent, The following are the' percentages in successive years: 1916, 89-2; 1917, 90-6; L9lB, 90; 1919, 91-5; 1920, 87-5; 1921, 91. It was found necessary to take proceedings in forty-nine' case's of persistent irregularity. The convictions recorded were' thirty-eight, erne was dismissed, and the remainder of the cases we're withdrawn em condition of future regularity. Teaching Staff. —The following were.the numbers of teachers, pupil-teachers, and probationers in the service of the Board at the end of the year : —

Grand totals, 1921 : Males. Females. Totals. Certificated .. .. .. .. .. 166 379 545 Licensed '.. .. .. .. .. 2 3 5 Uncertificateel .. .. .. .. .. 8 1.30 138 Total aelults .. .. .. ..176 512 688 Pupil-teachers ~ .. .. .. .. 8 39 47 Total teaching staff . . . . . . 181 551 735 Probationers . . . . . . . . ..17 62 79 Grand totals .. .. .. .. 201 613 814 In addition to the numbers included in the table, the staff also included the following : Organizing teachers, 2 ; instructors—agriculture, 3 ; woodwork, 6 ; home; science, 5. The Training College staff is not included, above. Instruction of Teachers.- Arrangements were: made for the following courses of instruction : (1.) Week-end classes at Wellington in drawing and handwork, home, science, hygiene, and physiology, and singing; and at Masterton in drawing and handwork, hygiene-, physiology and first aid, and singing. (2.) A correspondence course, held throughout tho year in preparation for the certificate, and open to all uncertificated teachers within the district, was carried on under the; supervision of the Vice-Principal of the Training College, and was much appreciated. Wry general regret has been expressed that for financial reasons this course has been discontinued during the current year. (3.) A fortnight's course in preparation for the certificate was held at Blenheim eluring the last fortnight of the year. (4.) A course in agriculture and nature-study extending over a fortnight was held at Masterton by the Supervisor and assistant instructors during the; second-term holidays. Training College. —The following are' the' essential statistics : The total number of students was 196—49 men and 147 women. First-year students, 106 ; second-year students, 90. Students classified: Division A, 145; B, 44 ;C, 2; 1), 5. The Board is pleased that deifinite decision has been reached regarding the site of the future hostel. The Board commends to most careful study the unanswerable argument of the: Principal that house' accommodation should be provided without delay for outside students. In no other city is the difficulty of accommodation so great. To the public-spirited proprietors of the Friends', Y.W.C.A., the Students', and the Household Orderlies' Hostels, who have eione so much for the women students, the Board records its most grateful thanks. Secondary Education. The average attendance's for the ye;ar 1921 at the district high schools in the district were: Carterton, 44; Eketahuna, 47 ; Greytown, 20; Hutt, 33; Levin, 39; Masterton, 100; Martinborough, 32; Pahiatua, 27; Petone, 39; Total, 381. The Board is of opinion that as soon as the financial conditions permit the high schools at Lower Hutt anel Masterton should In' erected.

XI

Head Teachers. Sole Teaoher Cortili- .. , Unccrtili- Certifi- I ,. , , , Licensed. . . . j Licensed, cated. cated. cated. , 1 , t, Males ..85 .. 2 19 2 Females .. ■ 13 .. 0 49 3 Totals, 1921 .. 98 .. 2 68 5 Totals, 1920 . . 97 1 . . 84 9 i. Uncertificated. Assistants. Certifi- t. , cated. --«>«•■*■ Uncertificated. 2 5.1 4 79 62 317 83 67 37!) 356 53 66