NOTEWORTHY FIGURES

Dominion, Volume 16, Issue 175, 12 April 1923, Page 7

NOTEWORTHY FIGURES

SECONDARY EDUCATION IN NEW ZEALAND , By Telegraph.—Press Association. Invercargill, April 11. Speaking to-day at the opening of a girls 1 ' hostel in connection with the Gore High School, the Hon. C. J. Parr (Minister of Education). said that he waa sure no other country was doing more than New Zealand .in the matter of secondary education, and ha rejoiced at the fact. To-day over 20.000 children were attending high schools, grammar schools, and similar institutions, and this was a higher percentage than any other country could claim. He was proud to be able to' say that of these 20,000 scholars, 91 per cent, werp in receipt of free places. It was also noteworthy thatof the scholars who Standard VI.. 66 per cent, went' to receive Kocondary education. In addition to that, about 12 per cent, more attended a technical college, so ihat, no less than 78 per cent, were carrying on their education to a higher piano. Only last week tho regulations regarding the holding of technical classes of an evening where there was only a limited number of nunils available], had been altered so that such classes could receive capitation grants. He wished to encourage combination classes as much as possible, but he was sorry to- see that the boy pupils often did not remain at secondary schools for a longer period than a year. Ho hoped that parents would realise the importance of the. matter and encourage boys to remain longer, say for two or three or even four years. At present 20 to 30 per cent, of boy scholars left after one year.