E.—l,

It is noticeable that, while the total number of teachers has risen from 3,153 to 3,207, an increase of 54, the uncertificated teachers have risen from 680 to 789, an increase of 109. The reasons for this difference are that, by a provision of the Education Act, a license to teach, during its currency, entitles the holder to all the"privileges of a full certificate, and that, partly on this account, partly in order to enjoy the benefits of the provisions of the Superannuation Act, many uncertificated jteachers have recently applied for, and been granted, licenses to teach. It is a matter for regret that, whereas the number of fully qualified teachers has for the last three years decreased from 2,482 to 2,418, the number of uncertificated teachers has increased from 546 to 789. The latter are, of course, chiefly employed in small schools with ten pupils or less in average attendance. The scale of staff prescribed by the Public-school Teachers' Salaries Act of 1901 led to a diminution in the number of pupil-teachers, and a corresponding increase in the number of adult teachers. The supply of certificated teachers in the colony being, however, less than the demand for new adult teachers to take the places previously filled by pupil-teachers, it was unavoidable that a certain number of uncertificated teachers should for a time be appointed to fill the vacancies. Unfortunately, this shortage still exists; but, as all four training colleges are now at work, it is hoped that there will soon be sufficient qualified teachers to gradually take the places of the uncertificated ones.

TABLE E2.—Teachers, Certificated and Uncertificated, 31st December, 1906.

Tbaining op Teachebs. ' ■' '■ V' In the beginning of 1906 the training colleges at Auckland and Wellington were opened, and, with the two training colleges which had been for many years in operation, but which had been recently reorganized under more liberal conditions, adequate provision has been made for the training of teachers in each of the four University centres. Practically no change was needed in the buildings at Christchurch. Wellington was altered and added to at a cost of £5,419. Auckland has been to some extent remodelled, and a further sum of £8,000 has been authorised to be spent to fit it still further for training-college purposes, and a similar sum has been authorised to be spent in erecting a training college for Dunedin to replace the old and unsuitable structure at present in use. When the buildings at Auckland and Dunedin are completed the provision for the training of teachers in the colony will be put on a highly satisfactory basis as far as buildings and equipment are concerned. The number of students during the current year attending the various training colleges is as follows : Auckland, 19 women, 17 men, total 36 ; Wellington, 61 women, 16 men, total 77 ; Christchurch, 54 women, 15 men, total 69 ; Dunedin, 61 women, 18 men, total 79. The total for the whole is 195 women and 66 men, as compared

xi

Certificati 1. Uncertificated. Districts. CO _ r. 3fl T3 O H ■S -l *-« £3 © &rd B 2 P-t EH _ o H O to © a 2 8 _3 0_fl.i ► >>b5Sh i- ut«_ °5 d CD 2 ofO" O _ a n-2»SS 0-§ga_§_ d 5 S__ CD CD 2 5— O EH"?" W °3 o a.2 ■g 8 l-g dflg.3 d O EH o trie a a tH _ Auckland Taranaki Wanganui Wellington Hawke's Bay Marlborough Nelson Grey Westland North Canterbury South Canterbury Otago Southland 555 86 223 263 145 29 97 27 18 343 107 362 157 2 i i 557 86 223 263 146 29 98 27 18 345 107 362 157 64 11 19 28 6 7 15 1 6 20 9 20 21 24 7 10 12 3 7 15 7 1 8 5 25 10 82 18 58 24 38 40 29 12 15 21 5 38 53 170 31 87 64 47 54 59 20 22 49 19 83 84 727 117 310 327 193 83 157 47 40 394 126 445 241 a Total for 1906 Total for 1905 Total for 1904 Total for 1903 2,412 2,460 2,467 2,450 6 18 23 32 2,418 2,473 2,490 2,482 227 270 50 34 134 90 205 172 428 320 349 340 789 680 604 546 3,207 3,153 3,094 3,028