8.—2

16

Status of Teachers in regard to Certificates. Table E2 gives the number of certificated and uncertificated teachers re spectively on the 31st December, 1912, exclusive of secondary schools an secondary departments of district high schools. The following summary shows the numbers of certificated and uncertificated teachers in each of the years 1907 to 1912 respectively :■ —

Primary Teachers in all Public Schools (Secondary Departments of District High Schools excluded) at 31st December, 1912.

It is interesting to note that the total increase of teachers during the year is 261, that the certificated teachers have increased by 136, the partially qualified by 67, and the uncertificated by only 58. (It must of course be remembered that a considerable number of these uncertificated teachers sat for examinations in January, 1913, but were unsuccessful). This preponderant increase of wholly or partially qualified teachers is distinctly gratifying, and is due in a large extent to the facilities now available to teachers to take classes with a view to improve their examination status. Further information in this connexion will be found under the heading " Training of Teachers," Appendix D. There are, however, other causes tending to induce teachers to improve their examination status when possible. Certain Education Boards, for instance, have decided to dispense, where possible, with the services of teachers who are making no effort to qualify for their positions by examination. Moreover, the additional monetary inducements offered in recent years to teachers in New Zealand schools has checked the outflow of competent teachers to more lucrative spheres of employment, and has proved an additional stimulus to the younger teachers to improve their status as quickly as possible. And, lastly, there must be taken into account the steady output of certificated teachers from the four training colleges. Education Boards and others have submitted that it is impossible to expect teachers of schools with an average attendance of 15 or less (Grades 0 and I) to qualify for certificates. The fact that about 25 per cent, only of such teachers are certificated and that the proportion is not on the increase appears to bear out this contention. To obtain a fair comparison of the numbers of certificated and uncertificated teachers, therefore, it would be reasonable to omit teachers of schools in Grades 0 and I,

I. Certificated teachers — Adults .. .. .. .. .. : Pupil-teachers .. .. .. 1907. 1908. 1909. 1910. 1911. 1912. 2,422 2,451 2,593 2,663 2,783 2,919 14 2 1 i 1 ■ I Totals .. .. .. .. ! ' ■ 2,436 2,453 2,594 2,663 \ 2,783 2,919 2,919 I. Uncertificated teachers — (a.) Holding partial qualifications— (i.) Holders of licenses .. (ii.) Others partially qualified 178 99 68 56 7J 87 142 167 | 264 259 : 285J 336 87 336 ■ r~ '— Total of (a) (b.) Having no recognized examination status 320 266 332 315 356 423 545 635 689 ' 730 705 763 423 763 .— i ] [ Total number of uncertificated teachers 865 901 1,021 1,045 1,061 1,186 865 901 1,021 1,045 1,061 1,186 Total of I and II .. .. .. i : I l 3,301 3,354 3,615 3,708 3,844 4,105