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In 1946 three Samoan teachers were placed in New Zealand Native schools for training in modern teaching methods, and arrangements were made for two Samoan Inspectors and two Cook Islands teachers to spend the first term of 1947 in selected New Zealand Native schools. It is intended to bring four Samoan and four Cook Islands teachers to New Zealand each year for a three months' course of training. During the year there were discussions with the local Islands authorities (including mission representatives) on such matters as curriculum revision, teacher training, Native teachers' salaries, text-books, post-primary education, 'and manual and technical education; and the first steps were taken to introduce improvements in these aspects of the work. Higher Education Enrolments in the University colleges and in the two agricultural colleges showed further increases during 1946. There is some reason to believe, however, that the postwar peak has been reached and that a slight decline in numbers may now take place. Very large increases were made in the grants to the University, the University colleges, and the agricultural colleges. In 1946-47 nearly £BO,OOO more was made available than in 1945-46. These increases were intended to provide, among other things, for increased staffing, improved salary scales, " refresher " leave for academic staffs, increased administration expenses, better libraries, and the appointment of full-time academic heads for the four University colleges. Of special importance was a lump-sum grant of £lO,OOO to the University for research purposes. This is the first grant of the kind that the University has ever received. Some of the items agreed to by the Government involve even bigger grants in 1947-48. In addition, emergency capital grants totalling nearly £46,000 were made for the provision and replacement of equipment. None of the amounts already referred to, however, covers capital expenditure on buildings. In 1946-47 this amounted to £146,419, which is more than double the sum expended on University buildings in each of the two . years before the war. Owing to the acute shortage of materials and man-power, progress on the erection of permanent University buildings has been much slower than could be desired. In order to meet the emergency large numbers of temporary buildings, many of them secured from the War Assets Realization Board, have been erected or authorized in all the colleges. The value of University National Scholarships, including the boarding-allowance, was raised from £6O to £9O. The value of boarding bursaries was increased from £3O to £5O a year, exclusive of fees, and it was decided to give to holders of Higher School Certificates who are on full-time University courses a bursary allowance of £2O a year, in addition to the fees up to a limit of £2O. Funds were provided in November for a School of Physical Education at the University of Otago. It will provide, as from the beginning of 1948, a three-year course leading to a diploma, and it is hoped that it will produce the type of specialist teacher of physical education who is so badly needed in the post-primary schools. The increased interest in adult education is reflected in an increase of £lO,OOO in the grant for 1946-47. The Consultative Committee on Adult Education which was, at my suggestion, set up by the Council of Adult Education, brought down its report towards the end of the year. When full opportunity has been given for interested organizations and individuals to comment on the report it is hoped that it will form the basis for great developments in the field of adult education. The Chairman of the Committee was Mr. W. H. Cocker, President of Auckland University College Council. Pre-school Services The Consultative Committee in Pre-school Educational Services, under the Chairmanship of Professor C. L. Bailey, of Victoria University College, also reported late in 1946. Their report will be printed and full opportunity will be given for public discussion of its recommendations before any further action is taken.
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