E.—l

authorities report that the difficulty of obtaining the services of qualified teachers is gradually disappearing. Several Education Boards have warned uncertificated teachers in their service of the necessity of improving their examination status if they wish to retain their positions. A great improvement is also reported in the educational qualifications of those entering the service as probationers and pupilteachers, no difficulty whatever being experienced in securing the required number of well-qualified applicants. The following table shows the number of teachers holding the various certificates in 1921 and 1922 : —

Classes of Certificates held by Primary-school Teachers.

The largest increase has taken place in the number of teachers holding Class C certificates, 58 per cent, of certificated teachers now holding a Class C or higher certificate, this percentage being 4 higher than it was in the previous year. The Training of Teachers. (Table E5 and E6 in E.-2.) Training Colleges. There are four colleges for the training of teachers-one situated at each, of the principal centres of the Dominion. Owing to a shortage of trained teachers during the last few years the training colleges have been receiving greatly increased numbers of students, the numbers at the end of 1921 and 1922 being as follows :— , 1321.— * , 1922. -, Men. Women. Total. Men. Women. Total. Auckland .. .. . . 65 202 267 "97 254 349 Wellington, .. .. .. 49 142 19.1 79 197 276 Christchurch .. .. ..50 146 196 71 172 243 Dunedin .. .. ..49 201 250 76 205 279 Totals .. .. 213 691 904 323 828 1,151 In "two years' time the number of students has increased by 69 per cent., not without taxing to the utmost the facilities of the training colleges and making the task of the responsible officers a very onerous one. The number of male students in the same time has increased by 106 per cent., and besides the great increase in numbers .there has been a noticeable improvement in the qualifications of the male entrants to the colleges. This is no doubt due in some degree to the decreasing attractiveness of other vocations during the period of financial stress through which the Dominion has been passing. The number of students in attendance in the current year is 1,217. The ordinary course of training lasts for two years, and the output of trained teachers from the colleges in 1921 and 1922 was 383 and 593 respectively. The effect of such large numbers of qualified teachers entering the service is becoming very marked, and is enabling the local authorities either to force inefficient teachers to improve their status or to dispense with their services. Entrants to the training colleges come under one. or other of the following divisions : Division A, ex-pupil teachers, ex-probationers, or ex-trainees of recognized kindergarten schools who have obtained the necessary educational qualification ; Division B, other students who have passed Matriculation or obtained a higher leaving-certificate or a partial pass for Class D ; Division C, University graduates admitted for one year ; and Division D, teachers entering on short-period studentships. The numbers of students in attendance during the last quarter of 1922 under the various divisions were —Division A, 838 ; Division B, 256 ; Division C,

20

i Class of Certificate. M l 1921. i 1921. M. 1922. Total. F. Total. A B C I) E Total 41 219 707 458 32 1,457 7 79 I .072 .1,120 183 2,467 48 298 1,779 J, 584 215 43 200 778 429 28 8 113 1 .235 1 ,183 154 51 373 2,013 1.012 .182 3,924 1,538 2.093 4.231