E.—l

16

The following figures indicate the very marked decrease in recent years in the numbers of uncertificated teachers employed, in public primary schools : — Uncertificated Teachers. Number. 1920 '.. .. .. ■ .. .. 1,472 .. 28 1921 ,r».-.,, ;.., , •■■■,.. 1,336 ~ .. ■ 25 1922 . ... .. ... .. . 1,234 .• .. 22 1923 .. .. .. .. ..1,100 .. 19 1924 .. .. ..• .. .. 931 .. 16 1925 .. .. .. .. .. 701 .. 12 1926 .. .. .. .. .. 624 .. 10 1927 .. .. .. .. .. 500 .. 8 It must be remembered, of course, that many of the 500 uncertificated teachers have received professional training at the colleges and require to pass in only one or two subjects or to serve their term as probationary assistants in order to complete the requirements of a teacher's certificate. There are now very few untrained teachers in the Service, and it is quite impossible now for any one to enter the profession except through the avenue of the training college or the University. NATIVE SCHOOLS. At the end of 1927 there were 134 Native village schools under the direct control of the Department for the primary education of Maori children in districts principally settled by Natives. In addition there were ten primary and twelve secondary (boarding) schools controlled by various religious organizations. Maoris are also admitted to the ordinary public schools —and in fact the number attending these schools is greater than the number in attendance at Native schools. The following table shows the number of schools witn the enrolment at the end of 1926 and at the end of 1927 :—

These figures include a number of European children (832 in 1927) who attend Native village schools, and if these be deducted the enrolment of Native children in primary schools at the end of last year becomes 13,505, compared with 13,137 at the close of the previous year. The average yearly attendance at Native village schools was maintained at a creditably high percentage (87-4) of the average weekly enrolment. Boarding-schools for the secondary education of Maoris have been established by religious bodies, and the Government provides a number of scholarships tenable at these schools, which are inspected by the Department's officers. There were twelve schools at the end of last year, with an enrolment of 524 pupils, of whom 145 held Government scholarships. In addition, nine Maoris held scholarships at Otago University and Canterbury College, taking courses in arts, theology, medicine, law, and forestry, and. five Maoris held agricultural scholarships at Te Aute College. JUNIOR HIGH SCHOOLS. There were eight junior high schools in operation, during the year, as against six in the previous year. The total number of children enrolled at junior high schools at the end of 1927 was 2,290, as against 1,887 at the end of the previous year. Information regarding the pupils in attendance at the schools and the destination of pupils who left the schools last year is contained in the following tables : —

. i * ' [ : \ ' Native village schools VTission schools (primary) Public schools with Native children enrolled Schools, 1927. 1 34 10 769 Roll, 1926. 6,591 364 7,017 Roll, 1927. 6,620 470 7,247 Totals 913 13,972 14,337