E—l

Three of the New Zealand/UNESCO Fellowship holders arrived in New Zealand during the year and completed courses of study. Six New Zealand/UNESCO Fellowships have been offered for 1950 —two each to Malaya, Burma, and Indonesia. The Commission followed an active programme of work during the period under review, including the following items of special local interest: three thousand volumesof medical books and journals were sent to UNESCO for war-devastated libraries ; a survey of history text-books for the improvement of text-books and teaching materials ; appointment of a National Committee for the Improvement of Science Abstracting ; organization throughout New Zealand of discussion groups on the subject " food and people," and the distribution of basic literature related thereto ; display of the portfolio of Masaccio reproductions in art-galleries. The UNESCO-sponsored Draft Agreement on the Circulation of Educational,. Scientific, and Cultural Materials has received, in principle, the support of the New Zealand Government. Much progress has been made in working out a detailed and satisfactory agreement. Islands Education To assist young people from Samoa, Niue, and the Cook Islands to assume greater responsibility in their own affairs, seventy-one scholarships were granted at New Zealand schools. In the schools in the various islands, greater emphasis was placed on the teaching of local languages and culture. The Supervisor of Art and Crafts of the New Zealand Education Department visited the islands, and as a result, Samoan and Rarotongan teachers will visit New Zealand to obtain training in the teaching of art and crafts. Five island teachers were attached to Maori schools for a period of six months to enable them to observe teaching methods in those schools. Retirement of Mr. A. F. McMurtrie Recently Mr. A. F. McMurtrie, 1.5.0., M.A., retired from the position of AssistantDirector of Education. Mr. McMurtrie always had the interests and welfare of children at heart, and I wish to pay a tribute to him for his efficient and devoted service to the cause of education over his long period of service in the schools and in the Education Department.

TABLES Table C 1— PUBLIC PRIMARY SCHOOLS by Grade, December, 1949

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Grade. Number of Schools. Grade. Number of Schools. I (!"«) 54 Vb (231-270) 31 II (9-24) 492 Vc (271-310) 41 IIIa (25-30) 102 Vi> (311-350) 24 IIIb (31-70) 520 VI (351-510) 109 IVa (71-110) 196 VII (511-1,030) .. 96 IVb (111-150) 100 IVc (151-190) 69 Va (191-230) 42 Total 1,876