NATIONAL SCHOLARSHIPS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XLIII, Issue 13096, 8 February 1906, Page 6

NATIONAL SCHOLARSHIPS.

INTERESTING COMPARISONS.

AUCKLAND EASILY FIRST.

Ax interesting statement, giving a comparison of the number of pupils who qualified for junior national scholarships or Education Board junior scholarships in the various educational districts of the colony, was presented by Inspector Purdie at yesterday's meeting of the Auckland Education Board. The return shows that Auckland easily heads the list in securing a greater number of scholarships than any other district; one pupil for every 188 on the roll qualifying, as compared with one in every 257 in Hawke's Bay, which comes second on the list, and one ill every 302 in Taranaki, which comes third. Such a creditable result is a. matter for congratulation, when it is considered that the examination for junior national scholarships is the only means by which the standard of work in one educational district can bo compared with that of others. The subjoined table, compiled by Inspector Purdio from the New Zealand Gazetto of February 1, ISG6, shows the exact positions of the various districts, giving the number of pupils in each, the number of pupils who qualified, and the average number for every one who qualified: — Average i number nnraber Name of Number of pupils of pupils ] district. of pupils, qualified for one as per list, qualified. Auckland ... 30,207 560 183 Hawke's Bay 8,765 54 257 Taranaki ... 4.834 16 502 Wellington ... 16,831 47 355 Weatland ... 1,036 3 345 Marlborough ... 1.943 5 383 Otago ... ... 19,372 9 590 Grey 3,667 4 16 Southland ... 9.605 23 417 Nelson 5.622 1 3 424 S. Canterbury 5,114 8 639 N. Canterbury 19,373 22 880 Wanganui ... 12,281 11 1.109 Note.—These are entitled to 'a) a national scholarship. (b) an Education Board scholarship, or (c) a free place in a secondary school.

Inspector Purdie goes on to show that taking- 1000 pupils as a basis, the number of pupils who qualified were roughly: Auckland, 5.3; Hawke's Bay, 3.8; Taranaki, 3.3; Wellington. 2.9 Westland, 2.8; Marlborough, 2.5; Otago, 2.5; Grey, 2.4; Southland, 2.4; Nelson, 2.3; South Canterbury, 1.4-; North Canterbury, 1.1; and Wanganui, 9. "In the case of the latter districts," says Inspector Purdie, " the variance is so great as to lead to the conclusion that board scholarships are probably not determined by national scholarship results. Nevertheless, Auckland pupils are easily first. It is also interesting to note that though Auckland has little more than one-fifth of the pupils of the colony, she yet has more than two-fifths of those qualified. Taking the colony as a whole the number of qualified pupils per thousand is almost 3. Taking Auckland alone the number is almost —nearly double the average. Of 3% candidates qualified for national scholarships 169 belonged to Auckland. It is interesting to note that of those qualified 268 belonged to the North Island, 127 to the South; that 71,853- pupils attend the primary schools in the North Island, as against 63,637 in the South. The latest attendance- returns available are those of December. 1904. Calculations involving attendance hare, therefore, been based thereon. The 'following shows the number of pupils in each district who at the national scholarship examination qualified for free places in secondary schools, but did not succeed in reaching the scholarship standard: Auckland, 39; Wellington, 21; Hawke's Bay, 11; Otago, 11; Southland, 11; Taranaki, 6; Nelson, 5; North Canterbury, 4; Marlborough, 4; Wanganui, 2.

The Chairman of the Board (Mr. S. Luke) remarked that it was most gratifying to see that the Auckland educational district showed up so well, and it was a matter upon which both teachers and scholars were to be congratulated. A special vote of thanks was passed to Inspector Purdie for his return.