E—3

they could pass the School Certificate Examination and thus qualify for admission to training college. A " quota, " for Maori students was arranged, and in 1940 the first 4 students having fulfilled all requirements, entered training college under the Maori quota. Last year, as stated previously in this report, the number had grown to 31, and the Maori schools have had the benefit of a considerable number of trained Maori teachers in recent years. From 1940 to 1947 (inclusive), 142 Maori students have been admitted to training college. There can be no doubt about the success of this scheme, for not only has it provided us with trained Maori teachers, but the presence of our students in the colleges has also stimulated an interest in the Maori among the pakeha students. For the last six years I have also tried to foster this interest by giving an address on Maori schools to the second-year students at the Christchurch and Dunedia Training Colleges, and we have had recruits to our service from both these colleges. Last year, in addition to addressing the training-college students, I also addressed the Stage 111 Education students at Canterbury College and Otago University. These students ars expected to know something of Maori education, and they followed with keen interest the history and present policy of our schools. In 1931 the Maori schools were poorly equipped for the task they had to perform. The new methods demanded much more equipment, and we have endeavoured to supply this as quickly as circumstances would permit. When old buildings, no longer suitable for class-room purposes, were replaced by modern rooms, we have adapted them for the teaching of woodwork and cookery, and for the provision of bathhouses where an adequate water-supply was easily accessible. To-day there are 68 woodwork-rooms and 55 cookery rooms attached to our Maori schools, and 22 schools are equipped with bathhouses. Eleven model cottages have been built, and by the end of this year it is anticipated that all schools of Grade IV and higher will be equipped with a sewingmachine. Woodwork tools have been issued to 93 schools, and capitation is paid at the rate of ss. per pupil of eleven years of age and upwards, for both woodwork and cookery, where the schemes have been approved by an Inspector and the Department is satisfied the work is being satisfactorily performed. Libraries have been established in most schools, and these are being extended year by year.

The publicity given to our Maori schools has attracted to the service more highly qualified teachers, as may be seen from a comparison of certification in 1931 and 1947

Whereas ill 1931 more than 36 per cent, of the teachers were uncertificated, in 1947 the proportion was 17 per cent. Teachers' D and E Certificates are no longer issued. In 1931 only 41 per cent, of the teachers had a C Certificate or higher, whereas in 1947 76 per cent, were so qualified. Some of the uncertificated teachers are quite equal in teaching skill to those who have been fully trained, but there can be no doubt that, viewing the service as a whole, the influx of better trained and more highly qualified teachers has had a beneficial effect. A number of these uncertificated teachers are Maori girls who, having proved their ability as junior assistants, are being used, owing to the general shortage of teachers, in more responsible positions.

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1931. 1947. A Certificate 1 B Certificate 16 54 C Certificate 76 232 I) Certificate 48 27 E Certificate 1 Uncertificated 81 64 222 378