55

E.—l

Pupil-teachers.—The following table shows the result of the annual examination of pupilteachers and candidates for employment, held in June, 1888 : —

All the male candidates who qualified have received employment. There are still thirty qualified female candidates unemployed. New regulations have been introduced with the approval of the Minister. A probationary service of three months is required before a pupil-teacher can be indentured. The instruction of pupil-teachers is relegated to head teachers. The programme of examination has been revised, and science is added as a subject in view of the requirements for Class E. The optional examination at the end of the third year is discontinued, and in lieu thereof it is provided that a pupil-teacher shall enter for examination in Class E, or in some higher class, within eighteen months after passing the examination prescribed for the end of the second year; but the Board does not undertake to continue the employment of any pupil-teacher beyond the prescribed term of three years. Attendances.-—The following table shows the number of schools and the attendances of scholars during the December quarters of 1887 and 1888 respectively :—

At the end of last year there were 464 scholars over school age, and 167 scholars who had passed the Sixth Standard. Inspection.—The reports of the Inspectors show that it was not possible to pay two visits to every school during the year. The number of schools examined in standards was 238, and the number inspected was 132. An arrangement has been made to hold the examination of the larger town schools in the winter, so as to allow a greater number of country schools to be visited in fine weather. Free Night School.—The work of the free night school continues to be appreciated. Its usefulness has been increased by a more stringent code of rules. The number of pupils is 146. Subjects of Instruction.—Special attention has been given to the teaching of drawing. The drawing master has visited most of the country schools, and has held classes at convenient centres for the instruction of teachers. Some advance has been made in the teaching of elementary science. The Inspectors report that in thirty-two schools science is taught with experimental illustrations, in 108 schools it is taught with little or no special apparatus, and in ninety-five schools it is not taught at all. Training of Teachers. —After the closing of the Training College at the end of 1887 no special provision remained for the training of teachers. With the co-operation of the Mount Albert District School Committee, the Board is now organizing that school as a practising school in which student-teachers may obtain the training and experience necessary to fit them to take charge of country schools. Scholarships.—The regulations have been altered and the money value of scholarships has been reduced so as to increase the number to be competed for in each year. The Board regrets that its proposal to apportion the scholarships more evenly between town and country schools did not receive the Minister's approval. The Board is in communication with the authorities of the Lincoln Agricultural College (Canterbury), with a view to using one or two scholarships in each year to give boys a training in farming and agriculture. Buildings.—The funds granted for buildings are not sufficient to meet requirements. A further sum of £5,000 is needed to enable the Board to undertake the most necessary works. The Board has not yet received its full share of the building grant voted by Parliament for the current financial year. A circular has been issued to School Committees, inviting them to cooperate in maintaining the school buildings in a state of efficient repair ; and the Inspectors, when visiting a school, make a special report in detail upon the state of the buildiags and school grounds. Arrangements are made to paint the buildings once in every five years, half the cost being defrayed by the Board and half from the school fund of the district. The Board desires to acknowledge the ready co-operation which has been afforded by Committees in this matter.

Grade. Ixamij led. Passi id. Failei First-year pupil-teachers Second-year pupil-teachers Third-year pupil-teachers (optional) Candidates for employment M. 14 10 F. 54 36 Total. 68 46 M. 10 7 F. 34 17 Total. 44 24 M. 4 3 F. 20 19 Total. 24 22 26 60 86 7 23 30 19 37 56 Totals ... 50 150 200 24 74 98 26 76 102

Period. Number of Schools. ;oll Numbi sr. Aven ige Attendance. 'ecember quarter, 1888 •ecember quarter, 1887 254 246 Male. 11,207 10,833 Female. 10,306 10,168 Total. 21,513 21,001 Male. 9,291 8,978 Female. Total. 8,349 17,640 8,241 17,219 Increase 374 138 512 313 108 421