E.—l

60

Teachers.—The staff of teachers at the end of the year numbered 529, as compared with 488 at the end of 1882. Their classification is as follows:—

The Board has continued the employment of probationers, who learn to take part in the work of teaching, and receive special instruction at the classes held in connection with the Training College. The number of uncertificated teachers employed at the end of the year was eighty-six. Of this number, fifty-three were head-teachers. The Board gives a preference of employment to those who hold a certificate but it is clearly impossible to supply every small school with a certificated teacher Pupil-Teachers.—The number of pupil-teachers has increased from 136 to 170. The supply of male pupil-teachers is very limited, and the Board is considering how it may be increased. There is an adequate supply of female pupil-teachers, but some difficulty has been experienced in providing pupil-teachers for country schools. The Sixth Standard is the qualification for employment. In each case the Board requires from the candidate certificates of physical health and general fitness for the work of teaching , and candidates are required to go through a term of three months' probation in order that their capacity may be tested before they are formally indentured as pupilteachers. The following table shows the result of the annual examination of pupil-teachers held in June, 1883 :—

The examination for third-year pupil-teachers was optional. Those first-year pupil-teachers who had passed the entrance examination between December, 1882, and June, 1883, were not again examined on this occasion. Attendances. —The number of schools, scholars on the roll, and average attendance for the December quarters of 1882 and 1883, are thus compared :—

The attendance during the year was 77 per cent, of the roll-number. There was no epidemic or exceptionally bad-weather to occasion a falling-off in the attendance. In town schools the average is fully 80 per cent., but in country schools it is sometimes less than 60 per cent, of the roll-number Ages.—There were 418 scholars over school age, besides the number attending evening schools. The admission of children under five years of age is prohibited, but there is reason to believe that scholars have been entered under age contrary to rule. The Board has lately instructed headteachers, in case of doubt, to require from parents a written certificate of age. Inspection and Standards.—The report of the Inspector of Schools contains the usual return of the results of the annual examinations in standards. The Board has endeavoured to provide, as far as possible, that each school shall be inspected at least once a year (in addition to the annual standard examination), and that the inspection and examination in standards shall not be conducted consecutively by the same Inspector in the same portion of the district. In order to do this, it was necessary to appoint a third Assistant Inspector

Male. Female. Total. Head-toachers Assistant teachers Pupil-teachers Sewing-teachers Visiting teachers 156 24 18 36 98 152 40 192 122 170 40 5 5 Totals ! 203 326 529

Grade. Exami: ted. Pass* id. Failed. fast-year pupil-teachers iecond-year pupil-teachers.. Mrd-year pupil-teachers Jandidates for employment M. 9 4 F 57 97 3 18 Total. 66 31 3 18 M. 7 3 F 39 25 3 10 Total. 4.6 28 3 10 M. 2 1 F Total. 18 20 2 3 8 "*8 Totals... 13 105 118 LO 77 87 28 31

Number of Schools. Ave :age Atteni lance. •ecember quarter, 1883 'ecember quarter, 1882 217 209 Male. 8,785 8 304 Female. 8,335 7,797 Total. 17,120 16,101 Male. 6,941 6,595 Female. 6 407 6,046 Total. 13,348 12,641 Increase for 1883 481 538 1,019 346 361 707