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APPENDIX I). TRAINING OF TEACHERS. No. 1. EXTEACT FROM THE THIRTY-SIXTH ANNUAL REPORT OF THE MINISTER OF EDUCATION. The four training colleges in the four centres of population had their full complement of students in attendance during the year. Of the 398 students in attendance during the last quarter, 357 (Division A students) had completed their course as pupil-teachers or probationers before entrance to the colleges, and eight had obtained University degrees. Of the remainder, twenty-nine had qualified for admission by passing the Matriculation or some higher University examination, but were without previous teaching experience (Division B students), and four were admitted under the special provisions for teachers of small schools whose qualification is incomplete. These numbers show an increase of 7*7 per cent, in the number of Division A students admitted during the year. Of the Division B students the number for whom room has been found is still notably small, and probably those asking admission who are not already provided for by means of a pupil-teacher or probationer course must in any case necessarily be few. Of the total of 398 students, 113 were men and 258 were women. The following table indicates the percentages for the past three years : — Percentages of Male and Female Students. Males. Females. For the year 1910 .. .. .. .. 31-32 68-68 1911 .. .. .. .. 33-67 66-33 1912 .. .. .. .. 28-39 71-61 The ordinary course of training is for two years, so that approximately 200 students annually complete their training and pass into the schools. Most of these are very quickly absorbed, and later in the year new vacancies still continue to exceed the supply. To meet the demand an amendment in the regulations for training colleges has now been made, raising the limit of attendance from 100 to 125 students in each case, while a further step has been taken in the extension of probationer appointments —the main source of future supply. The increase gives better opportunities for those to come in who have not served as pupil-teachers or probationers, but who are otherwise eligible as students. At the same time, but

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