EDUCATION IN NEW ZEALAND.

Gisborne Times, Volume XXVI, Issue 2280, 27 August 1908, Page 2

EDUCATION IN NEW ZEALAND.

ANN UAL DEPARTAIENTAL REPORT.

[SimcuAL to “Times.”]

WELLINGTON, August 25. Tin; annual report of the Depur tment of Education shows that 42 more schools were open at tin* end of 1900 than during tho previous year. Last year’s record is 1903 schools, tho total average attendance for the year was 120.020, being a decrease of 1932 as compared with tho previous year’s total. . A large increase is again shown in the addition to the number reported as receiving instruction in handwork in various forms. Tho total number receiving instruction under this heading has now reached 74.9 per cent, of the total roll number. The percentages of tho numbers receiving instructions in nature study and physical instruction were 90.5 and 97.40 respectively of the total roll number. The. proportion of pupil teachers, male, has steadily risen during the last five years. Tho cost in salaries and allowances now totals £499,418. In regard to the increase in uncertified teachers it is pointed out that it is largely due to the more measures introduced in many remote localities that under earlier conditions would have gene without any educational advantages whatever, and are now served by household or other schools of the smaller size. there has thus been brought into the service a considerable number of persons who, while ranked as teachers and doing useful work in their position, do not and cannot be expected to pass any recognised teaching status. A still more important and persistant cause, however, of the increased number and proportion of certified teachers lies in the character of the certificate itself. For some years past the old class certificate which adorned the ordinary qualification of a largo proportion of teachers lias been dropped. Examinations are no longer hold for certificates of this class, and fresh certificates of the kind are not issued except in certain very exceptional circumstances. In regard to teachers training colleges the total provision in 'contemplation as for 80 students in each of the centres. Towards this number, out of tho total reported, Wellington contributes 74, Dunedin 73, Christchurch 66, and Auckland 36.

For many years the Boards have boon receiving large grants of money for the maintenance of school buildings. For the last few years these grants have been specially earmarked for repairs and for the rebuilding of worn-out schools . Presumably about half the amount of the grants has been used for repairs and a few schools have been rebuilt, but the unspent balance of the grants, according to the accounts or the Boards, show nearly £70,000 now available to meet the cost of rebuilding a large number of schools, which must, in the interest of health and efficiency, besoon replaced. Owing to neglect of the conditions on which tho grants were given or to other causes not easily traced,' about £62,000 of this reserve fund has disappeared, leaving only £7,000 in hand to meet an imminent necessary expenditure of ten times that amount. The position is one that calls for serious consideration. The number of children returned as receiving instruction in physical and military drill in the public schools of the Dominion at the end of the year was 137,404. The strength of the cadets is 15,183. Dealing with the scholarship question tlio report gives out that supplementing the provisions for scholarships the arrangement now in force by which the pupils of fair promise are admitted to free tuition in secondary and other schools are very comprehensive and far reaching in their effects. For all who desire it there is now' a free course from its initiatory stages of the primary school to tho doors of the university by means of other scholarships and bur- . aries making classes at the colleges free to all duly qualified students. A further step of progress to the distinction of a university degree is also possible in terms of similar advantage. There are now 3579 pupils on the rolls of tho secondary schools. Counting the secondary classes of the district high schools, there are now over 5000 pupils receiving free secondary education, exclusive of those holding free places at technical schools. EDUCATION BILL REPORTED. The Education Act Amendment Bill was reported to the House today by the Education Committee with a number of amendments. Clause 5 (dealing with the number of teachers in each school) is amended by the addition of a new' subclause which provides that “the staff of any public school shall not at any time before the full number of said additional lists has been appointed be less than it would have been under the principal act, had this act not been passed and the additional teacherSj if any, required in order to conform to this requirement shall receive salaries of sub-grade as determined by the first schedule hereto. An addition to sub-clause five of clause seven provides that a teacher shall receive the first increment of salary from the same date as if he had continued in the position from which lie was so transferred. A new sub-clause (8) is added to clause seven as follows: “If any public school is at the beginning of any year placed in grade 1 or a higher grade, and that school is thereafter reduced in grade, any teacher who remains in the same position therein, shall, for two years after the reduction, continue to receive the same salary as if no such reduction had taken place, hut tho school eliall nevertheless at all times he staffed in accordance with the grade or sub-grade to which it belongs for the time being.” In the second schedule an amendment lias been made by providing that “at least 3 of the first 6 assistants in any school must he women.” The Bill as introduced, provided “at least Tl )e grades for district high schools have been increased by onnt*ln S “l 2 to 30” and substituting “12 to 20 . and “21 to 30”, the first being placed in salary grade iii and the latter in iv. Footnote a to the district lngli sclioqls scale has been deIcted and the following substituted: ,/° the teacher of a district school there shall he payable an amount of £3O per annum in addition to any other amount payable to him under this act.