and, as a result, the actual population of the training centres is less although the output of certificated teachers is greater. The National Committee will naturally reconsider the hostel question in the light of these changes. Meanwhile they are turning their attention to the erection of a new demonstration school at the Edinburgh Centre, which is long overdue. Two experiments in training were mentioned in last year's report; -at the Glasgow Centre, a new arrangement of the practical work of graduate students; and at the other three centres, new means of providing for the needs of rural school teachers. Both have been successful, and both are likely to be introduced at the centres where they have not yet been tried. Classes for the further instruction of certificated teachers have been conducted at all the training centres, both during the session and in the vacation, with unabated zeal and success. The summer schools at Edinburgh and at St. Andrews were exceptionally popular. Statistics as to the number of teachers in service on 31st March, 1927, with details as to sex, qualifications, and the classes of school in which they were employed, are given in Appendix X. The total number of teachers in service on that date was 26,605. On 31st March, 1926, it was 26,250. The average number of scholars on the registers per teacher in each type of school is as follows: Primary schools ... Secondary schools, including all schools conducted ... ... ... Special schools and classes for blind, deaf or mute or ... ... 35 24 18 The number of candidates for the Teacher's General Certificate who were admitted into training at the beginning of the current session was 1,436, as against 1,390 in the preceding year. These candidates were qualified for enrolment as follows, under the respective provisions of Article 15 of the Regulations : Under Article 15 (a) (Women holding the Leaving ... Under Article 15 (c) (Graduates) 493 ... ... 2 ... Under Article 15 (d) (holding the Leaving Certifi- ... Under footnote (b) to Article 15 (Women with The total number admitted shows an increase of 46 on the number admitted in the previous year. The steady rise in the number of graduate entrants is still maintained. The number of candidates admitted to a course of preliminary training at the beginning of the session 1927-28 was 1,100, a decrease of 297. Of the candidates admitted in 1927-28, 479 were enrolled for the three-years' course, 528 for the two-years' course and 93 for a single year's course. The corresponding figures for the previous session were 675, 629 and 93. Appendix XI shows the total number of senior students in training for the Teacher's General Certificate at the beginning of the current session (1927-28), and the number of such students who are attending university classes or who are already university graduates. While there is an increase of 46 in the number of new students, there is a decrease of 169 (men 37, women 132) in the total number in training, the figure for the current session being 2,346 (men 376, women 1,970) as compared with 2,515 (men 413, women 2,102) in 1926-27 and 2,668 (men 412, women 2,256) in 1925-26. It should be noted that the figures in this table refer to students who are in training for the Teacher's General Certificate, i.e., the qualification to teach primary school subjects. In addition, there are students training under Chapter V of the Regulations for recognition as teachers of certain special subjects, and others under Chapter VI for recognition as teachers of certain technical subjects. Of the students in training for the Teacher's Special Certificate, 80 per cent. are in training also for the Teacher's General Certificate. In 1926-27, 1,594 students, as against 1,541 in the preceding year, were awarded the Teacher's Probation Certificate after successfully completing a course of training under Chapter III. In 1913-14 the number was 1,291. The numbers recognised in 1926-27 under Chapter V and Chapter VI were, respectively, 219 and 261. The figures for the preceding year were 244 and 218. Exchange of Student Teachers with France. The scheme for the interchange of student teachers between this country and France, particulars of which are given in the Department's Circulars Nos. 70 and 71, continues in operation. For the current school year (1927-28) 49 Scottish candidates (21 men and 28 women) received appointments in France, while 29 French candidates (15 men and 14 women) obtained engagements in Scotland. Educational Appointments Overseas. In conjunction with the Board of Education, the Department have assisted in the recruitment and selection of candidates for 23 vacancies which occurred during the year under various Colonial Education Departments. Three of the appointments fell to Scottish candidates. We are also continuing our practice of furnishing Education Departments of the self-governing Dominions, when desired, with particulars of the qualifications and experience of Scottish teachers seeking permanent employment in schools under their administration. The requests for this service during 1927 showed a considerable increase on those for the two previous years, numbering 28, as compared with 10 in 1926, and 9 in 1925. The increase may perhaps be attributed in part to the provision made in the Superannuation Scheme whereby a Scottish teacher's superannuation rights can be kept alive during his stay in the Dominions up to a period of four years. This provision, coupled with the fact that, if he returns to Scotland, Education. Authorities have full liberty under the Minimum National Scales to credit him with his service overseas for the purpose of salary, should tend to facilitate the movement of teachers within the Empire. The Scottish teacher, at least, can embark for one of the Dominions without the feeling that on landing he will have completely burned his boats. For those who do not contemplate emigration but wish to see the world, facilities are offered under the scheme for the temporary interchange of teachers between Scotland and the Dominions. The conditions of the scheme, which was accepted by the Association of Education Authorities in Scotland on the recommendation of the Imperial Education Conference of 1923, are set forth in our Memorandum No. M. 4 (1926). Under this scheme 16 exchanges were arranged during the year 1927, 13 with Canada, two with Australia and one with South Africa. PENSIONS. Education (Scotland) (Superannuation) Acts, 1919 to 1925. At 31st March, 1926, the total amount of retiring allowances in force (excluding awards made after, but with effect at that date) was £419,101 (£241,241 in respect of 1,303 men: £177,860 in respect of 1,750 women). During the year ended 31st March, 1927, annual allowances were awarded on account of age to 133 men and 187 women, amounting to £52,859 (men £29,240 women £23,619), and on account of disablement to 12 men and 73 women, amounting to £7,779 (men £2,035 women £5,744). Under Article 3 (3) of the Amendment (1925) of the Scheme of 1919, supplementary allowances were awarded in 5 further cases (4 men: 1 woman) amounting to £139 (men £113: woman £26) while variations in the amounts of existing supplements, due to variations in the means or circumstances of pensioners, occurred in 13 cases. (The number of supplementary allowances under this Article in force at 31st March, 1927, was 409 (men 121: women 288) amounting to £10,509 (men £3,426 women £7,083)). Through death and other causes the allowances of 182 teachers (100 men and 82 women) lapsed, amounting to £24,758 (men £16,691 women £8,067). As a net result, at 31st March, 1927, the retiring allowances in force amounted to £455,120 (£255,938 in respect of 1,348 men: £199,182 in respect of 1,928 women). In addition to the above annual allowances, lump sums were granted amounting to £165,386 (men £86,554 women £78,832). In respect of 75 teachers (men 32: women 43) who died in service, and 9 teachers (women) who died after retirement, death gratuities were awarded amounting to £28,774 (men £15,760: women £13,014). Gratuities amounting to £486 (men £176: women £310) were awarded to 1 man and 3 women who were not eligible for annual disablement allowances. The amount of contributions repaid during the year ended 31st March, 1927, to teachers who had been contributors under the Scheme of 1911 to the Scottish Teachers Superannuation Fund was £187 (men £97: women £90), making a total, for the eight years since such repayment had been authorised, of £728,550 (men £307,216 women £421,334). Further claims for repayment are likely to be few and to involve no appreciable fresh draft on the Fund. The services of 25 teachers (19 men and 6 women) were extended for varying periods beyond the dates at which they attained the age of 65 years, when they would normally have become superannuated. women The operation of the provision of the Education (Scotland) (Superannuation) Act, 1925, as to the payment by teachers of 5 per cent. of their salaries as a contribution towards the cost of superannuation benefits resulted in the collection of a sum of £387.749 11s. 6d. (men £139,854 178. 11d. : £247,894 13s. 7d.) in respect of the year ended 31st March, 1927. Contributions were repaid to 123 teachers (men 1: women 122) during the year in terms of the Scheme of 1919, the amount involved being £4,055 5s. 8d. (men £24 19s. 3d.: women £4,030 6s. 5d.). Contributions were also repaid to 338 teachers (men 20 women 318) in terms of the Scheme of 1926, the amount during the year being £14.157 1s. 9d. (men £766 Os. 10d.: women £13,391 0s. 11d.). Education Authorities and other bodies of Managers were required by the Act of 1925 to contribute annually towards the cost of superannuation benefits an amount equal to 5 per cent. of the salaries of all teachers in recorded service. The total amount paid to the Department in terms of that requirement in respect of the year ended 31st March, 1927, was £387,225 4s. 5d. As explained, however, in the Department's Memorandum on the financial effect of the Education (Scotland) (Superannuation) Bill, 1925, the contributions from this source will, until 1928, simply increase the Education (Scotland) Fund and thus be available for distribution The to Education Authorities as part of the ordinary grant. corresponding interests of those grant-earning schools or institutions which are not under the management of Education Authorities were meanwhile preserved by the Minute of 11th November, 1926, which authorised the payment of a special grant to the governing bodies equal to three-fifths of their contributions in each of the years ended 31st March, 1927 and 1928. The amount of grant thus paid in respect of the year ended 31st March, 1927, was £12,315 15s. 11d. Education (Scotland) Act, 1908, Section 13. In the year ended 31st December, 1927, the grants paid under Section 13 of the Education (Scotland) Act, 1908, in aid of allowances made to teachers by Education Authorities or other Managers of State-aided Schools amounted to £833. ROYAL SCOTTISH MUSEUM. The Museum was honoured in the month of July last by a visit from Her Majesty the Queen accompanied by H.R.H. Princess Mary. The number of visitors during the year was 468,504, an increase of 11,281 on the total for the previous year. Sunday continues to be the most popular day; the total attendance on Sunday afternoons during the year was 186,508, the largest attendance on any one afternoon being 5,207. On the two evenings in the week when the Museum is open it was visited by 18,971 people, 4,503 more than in the previous year. The demonstrations have been popular. The lantern lectures organised by the Education Authority were attended by 2,456 children. Visitors to the library numbered 1.916. Good progress has been made with the work of preparing further portions of the new building for exhibition to the public. The new British Bird hall on the ground floor of the extension was thrown open after Her Majesty's visit; and a Beasts of Prey hall is in course of completion. The small aquarium, the refitting and rearrangement of which was completed last spring, has been on view during the year and has attracted much attention. A number of large casts have been transferred to the new Architecture hall; and the gallery of Comparative Ethnography has been completed and will be opened to the public in the course of this year. In the portion of the new extension allotted to the technological department the collection of lighthouse apparatus, which has been undergoing rearrangement, will soon be on view. |