E.—l

21

25 ; Division D, 26 ; supernumerary teachers, 4 ; and soldier students, 2 : making the total of 1,151. 632 were first year students and 519 were second-year students. The large preponderance of Division A students — i.e., students having had experience as pupil-teachers or probationers—is noticeable. For the teaching practice of students the normal practising schools forming part of the training college in each case are available, and opportunities of observation are also extended so as to embrace specially selected teachers and classes in neighbouring schools. Each normal school includes — (a) a main school, organized as a " mixed school " ; and (6) model schools of the following types : (i) A rural public school under a sole teacher ; (ii) a junior school under one teacher with not more than 45 children of classes PtoS2 on the roll; (iii) a class representing the secondary department of a district high school; (iv) a special class of children of school age ; (v) a junior kindergarten. Students receive their theoretical instruction from the training-college staff, and also attend University college classes to a, considerable extent. They are not permitted to take University classes inconsistent with the requirements of their professional course, and only if considered sufficiently capable may they attempt a degree course in conjunction with their trainingcollege work. Up until the present it has been the custom for the Principal of the training college to lecture on the subject of education at the University college, trainingcollege students attending his lectures. Under a new arrangement the Education Department is to be responsible for the salary of a Professor of Education at each University college, whose classes will be attended by training-college students, the Professor of Education thus taking most of the college lecture work in education, and the Principal of the training college being left more free to devote his time to the administration of the training college. Close co-operation between the University and the training college will be necessary to ensure that the same ideals are being striven after from the theoretical and the practical standpoints. In addition to the staffs of the normal practising schools the staffs of each training college consists of a principal, vice-principal, one or more assistant-lecturers, and a tutor and librarian. Divisions A, B, and C students satisfactorily completing the prescribed course of work at the training college may, on the recommendation of the Principal, receive without further examination a trained-teachers' certificate ranking with the Class C or Class D certificate, as may be determined. Of the 519 students beginning a two-years course in 1921, 309 held Class D certificates, and 173 held partial successes towards teachers' certificates at the time of entry ; and the following was the examination status of 593 students completing ther course at the end of 1922: Class A certificate, 1 ; Class B certificate, 50 ; Class C certificate with partial B, 8 ; Class C, 363 ; Class D with partial C, 77 ; Class D, 17 ; sectional D and sectional C, 61 ; sectional or partial D, 12 ; no examination, 3. The allowances payable to training-college students, which were somewhat reduced under the provisions of the Public Expenditure Adjustment* Act, are.' Division A and C students, men £93, women £88 per annum; Division B and D students, men £73, women £68 per annum. University class fees are paid in addition, and when necessary a boarding-allowance of £30 per annum or a travel-ling-allowance. As far as is known no better provision in this respect is made for student teachers in any English-speaking country. The amounts paid to Education Boards in 1922-23 for the training of teachers were almost the same in the total as in the previous year, being : — I. Training colleges— 1922-1923. Salaries of staffs (one-half charged to public - school £ £ salaries) .. .. .. .. .. 23,021 Students'allowances and University fees .. .. 122,713 Special instruction, libraries, and incidentals .. 1,978 Buildings, sites, equipment, and material .. .. 6,368 154,080 11. Other training— Grants for special instruction in certificate subjects of teachers other than training-college students .. 2,129 Railway fares of teachers .. .. .. .. 2,264 4,393 Total .. .. .. .. .. .. £158,473