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E.—l

The amounts paid to Education Boards in 1915-16 and 1916-17 for the training of teachers were as follow :— I. Training colleges— 19.15-16. 1916-17. Salaries of stalls (two-fifths charged to public- £■ £ £ £ school salaries) ... ... ... ... 12,700 13,268 Students'allowances and University fees ... 25,858 27,541 Special instruction, libraries, and incidentals ... 1,106 1,307 Buildings, sites, and equipment .... ... 6,081 942 11. Other training— 45,745 43,058 Grants for special instruction in certificate subjects, including science, agriculture, and handwork, of teachers other than training-college students ... ... ... ... 2,355 1,595 Railway fares of teachers and instructors ... 5,944 5,374 Sundries ... ... ... ... ... 16 8,315 6,969 ' £54,060 £50,027 Less recoveries... ... ... 34 Totals ... ... ... £54,026 £50,027 Provision for Uncertificated Teachers. Apart from the provision for training colleges, a grant of £2,800 was approved last year for payment to Education Boards for the maintenance of training classes for teachers. Unexpended balances from previous grants amounting to £1,820 were included in this sum, so that only £980 really constituted the new grant for 1916-17, as compared with £3,275 and £4,000 granted in the two previous years. The purposes for which the grant was applied were— (1.) Central classes for the direct personal tuition of uncertificated teachers (exclusive of pupil-teachers and probationers) in subjects required for the D certificate. (2.) Tuition and training in Class D subjects of uncertificated teachers (exclusive of pupil-teachers and probationers) by means of correspondence classes under the control of Education Boards, in cases in which it is found highly inconvenient to bring teachers to classes. Under this heading, however, no correspondence classes in science subjects are recognized unless the Board makes adequate provision for practical work. (3.) Courses of practical work in physical and natural science, in subjects of manual instruction other than those usually taught by special instructors, in vocal music, and in drawing. Certain conditions were imposed last year with the object of ensuring that the classes were attended only by teachers who were making conscientious use of the instruction afforded for the purpose of improving their status or teaching ability, and only half-fees were paid for tuition by correspondence except in special cases. In the distribution of the grant the amounts allotted to the various Education Boards varied from £125 to £925. There appears still to be considerable difficulty in some quarters in providing adequate assistance to inexperienced teachers who, especially during the present emergency, are filling positions in country schools. Further consideration, of proposals, including suggestions for the establishment of model schools where such teachers could receive a short training, and also for the appointment of organizing teachers or Inspectors having special charge of groups of small country schools, is deferred only until the conclusion of peace. Finances of Education Boards. (See also E.-2, Tables Fl to F9.) The table on the next two pages is a summary of the income and expediture, and of the assets and liabilities, of the various Education Boards for the calendar year 1916. Full information, for each district can be obtained on reference to Appendix A of E.-2, or to Tables Fl and F2 published in the same report.