E—2

1946 NEW ZEALAND

EDUCATION: PRIMARY AND POST-PRIMARY EDUCATION [In continuation of E.-2 of 1945]

Presented to both Houses of the General Assembly by Command of His Excellency

Note.—Some of the tables have been omitted because the information or part of it can be obtained elsewhere. These tables are as follows, and the tables to which reference can be made are also given: Table A s—see Table E 2 in E.-l for median ages ; Table A 9—see Table 0 1 in E.-l ; Table A 14— Table E sin E.-l ; Table B 2—see Table E 6 in E.-l ; Table D 2 —see Table E 3in E.-l ; Table D 4— see Table N in E.-l ; Table E 2—see Table D in E.-l ; Table J 2—see Table E 5 in E.-l. REPORT OF THE CHIEF INSPECTOR OF PRIMARY SCHOOLS (Me. G. E. OVERTON) FOR THE YEAR 1945 Sir, — I have the honour to present my report on the primary schools for the year ending 31st December, 1945 : Biennial Inspection The biennial instead of the annual plan which has been operating for four years has been tried out under peculiar difficulties. Restrictions on travel seriously impaired mobility, and, although conditions have improved, they are not yet normal. Nevertheless, the biennial plan has approximated to what was intended, and with adequate inspecting staffs, and improved travelling facilities, the plan can fulfil what was envisaged. Two great advantages have been noted—first, with the need to report fully on schools only once during two years, Inspectors have been able to plan their visits to enable more assistance to be given to the less experienced or efficient teachers, and, second, the elimination of a great part of the system of written reports has led to fuller personal discussions on work with the teachers while the Inspectors have been in the schools. Good use is made in the various districts of periodical circulars to teachers containing many suggestions on matters of organization, schemes of work, and methods of teaching different subjects especially where the syllabus has been recently revised.