§ Mr. HUGH BARRIEasked the Vice-President of the Department of Agriculture (Ireland) how many centres for summer courses for science teachers are provided; how many teachers are employed; will he also state how many national school teachers have attended these classes during each year since they were 318W started; and how many successfully passed their examination?
§ Mr. T. W. RUSSELLThe applications for admission to summer courses not having yet been fully considered, it is not possible to say at present at how many centres summer courses will be held this year, nor how many teachers will be employed. In 1908 summer courses were held at 26 centres, and 96 teachers and assistant teachers were employed. These courses are arranged for teachers engaged by local technical instruction committees or in schools receiving grants either directly from the Department or under the provisions of local schemes of technical instruction. The courses are not intended for the teachers of national schools. In 1908, however, the Department conducted a course in rural economy to which, on the nomination of the Commissioners of National Education, 15 national teachers were admitted. Of these 14 attended satisfactorily, 10 being granted certificates of satisfactory progress.