__.—1

20

Pupil-teachers and probationers were paid allowances at the following rates in 1921 : First year, £90 per annum ; second and third years, £95 per annum, with an additional £5 in the case of a male. In addition a boarding-allowance of £30 per annum is paid if the young person is obliged to live away from home, or a travelling-allowance not exceeding £10 per annum if daily travelling is necessary. Status of Teachers in regard to Certificates. (Table E2 in E.-3.) The table below gives a summary of the position with regard to the number of primary-school teachers holding teachers' certificates in the last three years : —

Primary Teachers in Public Schools.

The substantial proportion of uncertificated teachers employed in primary schools has for some years been a reason for dissatisfaction, and every effort has been made to reduce the number. The statistics for 1920 showed no improvement over those of the previous year, but fortunately the figures for 1921 show that there are 136 fewer uncertificated teachers than in the previous year, 75 per cent, of the staff being certificated,-as against 72 per cent, in 1920. The very large number of small country schools in the Dominion militates against the possibility of attaining a completely certificated staff, but it is recognized that there is still room for improvement. Excluding teachers in schools with less than twenty-one children, 84 per cent, of the staff was certificated in 1921 — i.e., 3,742 teachers out of a total of 4,450. Education Boards report that during the current year the position has again improved materially, and several are now able to notify uncertificated teachers that unless their status is improved it will be necessary for them to sacrifice their positions. The following table shows the number of teachers holding the various certificates in 1920 and 1921 :—

Classes of Certificates held by Primary-school Teachers.

It is gratifying to find that the largest increase has taken place in the number of teachers holding Class C certificates, 54 per cent, of certificated teachers now holding a Class C or higher certificate.

191 u. 1920. 192 Number. Percentage. Number. Percentage. Number. Percentage. I. Certificated teachers 3,577 72 3,703 72 3,924 75 II. Uncertificated teachers— (1.) Holding licenses (2.) Unlicensed 122 1,301 2 26 86 1,386 2 26 139 1,197 3 22 Total uncertificated 1,423 28 1,472 28 1,336 25 Totals of I and II .. 5,000 100 5,175 100 5,260 100

Class of Certificate. M. 1920. F. 1920. Total. M. 1921. F. Total. 42 209 659 427 29 42 209 659 427 29 I i 1 10 77 970 1,079 201 10 77 970 1,079 201 52 286 1,629 1,506 230 52 286 1,629 1,506 230 41 219 707 458 32 7 79 1,072 1,126 183 48 298 1,779 1,584 215 Total 1,366 ! 2,337 3,703 1,457 2,467 3,924