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A Dominion scheme for the staffs and salaries of secondary schools, including regulations for the grading of teachers, the staffing of schools, the appointment of "teachers, and the provision of the salaries and incidental allowances by the Government. This scheme replaces the previous arrangements under which the controlling Boards received capitation grants for all purposes, and provided their own staffs and salaries, which varied greatly from school to school. These reforms in the administration of secondary schools, which have been accompanied by greatly increased grants, have resulted in the removal of long-standing anomalies, the payment of more adequate salaries, and the improvement of teaching conditions generally, and have placed these schools in every way in a much more satisfactory position. The grading of manual and technical teachers ; the payment of salaries and the staffing of technical schools according to a Dominion scale ; the abolition for the most part of capitation payments for manual and technical classes. As in the case of secondary schools, the extensive reforms in this branch have been successfully carried into operation with similar beneficial results. Provision has been made, after the fullest discussion and consideration by all concerned, for a trial in three or four districts of a scheme under which the primary-school course will be shortened, and pupils transferred to junior high schools in which post-primary courses differentiated according to the aptitude of the pupils will be entered upon at the age of twelve. Provision for the extension of the school age to fifteen as soon as circumstances warrant the change. Increased allowances for the incidental expenses of School Committees. The development of local control of all technical schools by Boards of managers representing the parents of pupils, the Education Board, the local bodies, and organizations of employers and workmen. The purchase of material for elementary handwork in bulk' by the Department, and the simplification of payments to Boards for manual instruction. The increase of the number of students in the training colleges from 582 in 1919 to 1,150 in 1922, in order to reduce the number of uncertificated untrained teachers employed in our schools and to increase the staffs in the larger schools with a view to reducing the large, unwieldy classes. Regulations for the exchange of teachers with those of other countries, under which a number of New Zealand teachers and one Inspector are at present obtaining experience in schools in Canada and Great Britain, and teachers from these countries are working and observing in New Zealand schools. The establishment of a correspondence scheme of education to assist the children of settlers in remote districts where the number of children is too small to justify the establishment of a school. Already some two hundred children are being assisted in their studies by an officer of the Department appointed for the purpose. Revised regulations for teachers' certificate examinations providing for improved grouping of subjects and the removal of various defects. Various amendments and improvements effected to regulations for grading of primary-school teachers and for appeals against grading. Retardation of school-children dealt with by a special committee The institution of a monthly departmental publication for the information of teachers —the Education Gazette —providing a means of advising teachers of changes in departmental regulations and of vacancies in all classes of schools, of circulating instructions regarding school-work, and of placing before teachers suggestive schemes of instruction and informative articles on educational topics. The appointment of a School Architect as a departmental officer, and closer supervision of all building proposals in connection with primary, secondary, technical, and university education. £110,000 was expended in new primary-school buildings in 1919, as against £328,000 in 1921. The revision of the school syllabus in history and civics emphasizing the inculcation of the principles of patriotism and loyalty to King and country, and provision requiring all teachers to take the oath of loyalty.