Free Place Results

Manawatu Times, Volume LVI, Issue 7071, 2 February 1933, Page 9

Free Place Results

CAUSES OF DELAY EXPLAINED. EIGHTFOLD INCREASE IN CANDIDATES Per Press Association WELLINGTON, Jan. 31. Some delay has been apparent this year in the announcement of senior free plaeo awards, but this, it was explained to a reporter by the Director of Education (Mr T. E. Strong) to-day has been due to tho exceptionally large number of candidates this year who were compelled to sit for examination. In previous years tho practice has been to decide senior free placo awards on the recommendation of principals of schools, but last year it was decided to require all candidates to sit for a qualifying examination sot. by tho Department. No less than 9185 candidates entered, of whom 9418 actually sat. In 1931 there were only 1165 candidates.. The Department’s examination branch has been working night and day, Sundays included, to ensure that the results would 'be available before the schools actually opened. As district high schools open earlier than secondary and technical schools, advance lists were, posted to tho prieipals of these schools before they wero actually available for publication. The usual practice has been for the Department to have the lists printed at the Government Printing Office and for tho Press Association to receive copies of the lists before they are published in the Gazette. This year, in order to save time, the Department furnished the Press Association with typed lists, but it appeared that the Press Association was unable to deal with the publication of tho lists in that form. It therefore became necessary for the Department to prepare long alphabetical lists of over 6000 names, to be printed at tho Government Printing Office and thereafter to be available for the use of the Press Association. It is anticipated that the Press will have the lists in a day or two, before t.lio post-primary schools open on Tuesday. The Department regrets very much the delay in notifying the results, but this is entirely duo to tho causes stated.