c.—i

30

Training of Teachers. (See also Appendix I) of E.-2.) There are four training colleges situated in the four principal centres of the Dominion, which are open to four classes of students, as follows : Division A, ex-pupil-teachers, ex-probationers, or ex-trainees of recognized kindergarten schools; Division B, other students who have passed Matriculation or obtained a higher leaving-certificate; Division C, University graduates admitted for one year; and Division D, teachers entering on short-period studentships. The numbers of students in attendance during the last quarter of 1916 under the various divisions were—Division A, 381; Division B, 44; Division C, 9; and Division D, 8; the total being 442, as compared with 390 for the previous year. These figures do not include students absent with the Expeditionary Forces. The numbers of students at each training college during the last quarters of 1915 and 1916 respectively are indicated in the following table :— , 1915. , , 1916.-. , Men. Women. Total. Men. Women. Total. Auckland ... ... ... 33 79 112 29 85 114 Wellington ... ... ... 17 69 86 11 .91 102 Christchurch ... ... ... 14 78 92 18 92 110 Dunedin ... .. ... 16 84 100 21 95 116 Totals ... ... 80 310-390 79 363 442 The number of students in 1916 shows a considerable advance over the number for the preceding year, the increase being among the women students. The necessity for men students taking up military duties upon reaching the required age naturally results in a large reduction in their number at training colleges. The ordinary course of training is for two years, so that if the training colleges had their full complement of students (125 in each case) the number of students annually completing their training and passing into the schools would be about 250. Under certain conditions a one-year course is provided for in the case of University graduates or matriculated students who have completed a two-years course at an agricultural college or a school of home science recognized by the University of New Zealand. In addition, there are short-period studentships, of not less than three months' or more than one year's duration, for the benefit of teachers who have been already employed in teaching and are deemed worthy of further training in professional work, the allowances payable to such students being the same as those payable to students under Division B. The actual number of students completing one or other of these courses at the end of 1916 was 210. For the teaching practice of students the normal practising schools forming part of the training college in each case are available, and opportunities of observation are now extended so as to embrace specially selected teachers and classes in neighbouring schools. Each normal school includes — (a) a main school, organized as a " mixed school"; and (b) such " model schools "as may be approved by the Minister, each model school being of one of the following types : (i) A rural public school under a sole teacher; (ii) a junior school under one teacher with not more than 45 children of classes P to S2 on the roll; (iii) a class representing the secondary department of a district high school; (iv) a class for backward children; (v) a junior kindergarten. Each training college is required to provide for its students a course in agriculture, and provision for the further training of selected students in this subject has recently been made. Agricultural bursaries may be awarded to such students at the end of their first year, enabling them to complete their training during a one-year or two-years course at a State experimental farm or an agricultural college. Further provision on a wider scale for the training of teachers and others in agriculture is also in contemplation on the lines of the recommendations of the Council of Education, to be carried into effect as soon as circumstances permit. From tables in Appendix D of E.-2 it appears that at the beginning of the two-years course at the training colleges 70 students held Class D certificates, and at the end of the course 6 students held Class B certificates, 112 Class C certificates, and 56 class D certificates.