EDUCATION
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Accommodation for a further 16,000 pupils was provided by permitting increases in classroom accommodation, by en- couraging the two-sessional system, and by other measures under the seven-year plan. Although it is increasingly neces- sary that primary schools should work in two sessions, it is hoped that secondary schools will not have to adopt this system.
Teacher Training. In addition to providing, and assisting the provision of, more and better accommodation, Govern- ment aims at raising the standard of instruction in schools. To that end, it is concerned with the training of the necessary number of teachers and has accordingly expanded the teacher training college accommodation; it is also concerned with training practising teachers who are at present unqualified and special training courses are now provided.
The estimated number of teachers employed in all schools in the Colony during the year was 12,450. With the introduc- tion last year of revised salary scales and allowances, affecting teachers in government, grant and subsidized schools, teach- ing has become an attractive career both for University undergraduates and students leaving school. This is reflected in the number of applicants for admission to the training colleges, which rose from 1,531 in 1953 to 2,830 in 1956. Under the seven-year plan, the Grantham Training College has been extended this year to accommodate up to 300 students, as compared with an enrolment in 1954/55 of 132.
During the year nearly 200 trained teachers entered the private schools and, mainly for the benefit of those schools, refresher courses and conferences were held for teachers of middle school science and Chinese, and for kindergarten mistresses.
In 1955 17 graduates were awarded Diplomas in Education by the University, 187 students from the training colleges became certificated teachers on probation, and 225 members