EDUCATION: ANNUAL EXAMINATIONS. [In continuation of E.-8, 1916.]

Appendix to the Journals of the House of Representatives, 1917 Session I, E-08

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1917 NEW ZEALAND.

EDUCATION: ANNUAL EXAMINATIONS. [In continuation of E.-8, 1916.]

Presented to both Houses of the General Assembly by Command of His Excellency.

No. 1. EXTRACT FROM THE PQETIETH ANNUAL REPORT OF THE MINISTER OF EDUCATION. Annual Examinations. The annual examinations were conducted by the Education Department as usual for the various purposes of Junior and Senior National Scholarships, junior and senior free places in secondary schools, district high schools, and technical schools, and teachers' certificates. Also, by arrangement with the Public Service Commissioner, examinations were held for admission to and promotion in the Public Service. The examinations were held from the 22nd November to the Ist December, 1916, and from the sth to the 19th January, 1917, at sixty-four centres. The following table shows collectively, in comparison with the preceding year, the number who entered for the various examinations above enumerated, the number present, and the number of absentees : — 1915-10. 1916-17. Number who entered ... ... ... ... 10,978 11,858 Number who actually sat for examination ... ... 9,453 10,894 Number of absentees ... ... ... ... 1,525 964 The changes of most importance last year in the circumstances connected with the examinations were :■ — (1.) The suspension for the year of the practice of granting senior free places to approved candidates without special examination on the recommendation of the Principals of the secondary schools attended by them, or, in the case of district-high-school pupils, of Inspectors of Schools. It is hoped that the Departthis year and to grant exemptions from examination to pupils ment will be in a position to revert to the accrediting system satisfactorily completing approved courses.

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(2.) The charging of a fee for Public Service Entrance Examination, the fee being refunded to successful candidates on their appointment to the Public Service. (3.) The admission of girls to examination for Public Service Entrance after the lapse of several years during which only boy candidates were admitted. (4.) The Public Service Commissioner's announcement of his intention to discontinue the Public Service Senior Examination. (5.) The concession of permitting teachers to take a single group of the Class I) Examination at one time by the amendment of the regulations of the 11th September, 1916. This concession applied to last examination. The numbers of candidates who actually presented themselves in the examination-room are given below. For the sake of comparison the figures for the previous three years are also given. 1913-14. 1914-15. 1915-16. 1916-17. Junior National Scholarships and junior free places ... 3,154 3,562 3,973 4,403 Public Service Entrance, Senior National Scholarships, and Intermediate ... ... ... ... ... 2,756 2,739 3,022 3,839 Teachers D and C ... ... ... ... ... 1,524 1,576 1,720 1,941 Public Service Senior ... ... ... ... ... 871 804 675 653 Typists'Examination... ... ... ... 46 51 50 Kindergarten Certificate Examination ... ... ... 8 5 London University Examinations ... ... ... 2 1 Froebel Union Examination ... ... ... ... 2 2 8,305 8,727 9,453 1.0,894 A practice has been growing up of entering candidates for both the certificate of proficiency examination and the Department's special examination for junior free places. Last year no less than 1,916 pupils sat for the latter examination, and as the majority of these had the chance to qualify for junior free places on the results of the former examination it has been decided to prevent this unnecessary duplication in future by abolishing the special Junior Free Place Examination. Those who on account of age are unable to qualify for a free place at the Proficiency Examination will be given the opportunity of obtaining the qualification in the examination for Junior National Scholarships. The number of failures in the last Junior National Scholarship and Free Place Examinations—2,Bls out of 4,403 —indicates that head teachers are not exercising due discretion in selecting candidates. A great deal of unnecessary work is thus thrown upon the Department in examining candidates most of whom by the discreet interference of the teacher responsible might have been saved the ordeal of sitting for examinations for which they were not prepared. Candidates for Senior National Scholarships again had the option of being examined under a programme (scheme A) corresponding to the usual secondaryschool course, or under an alternative one (scheme B) intended to suit candidates who have been taking courses with an agricultural or domestic bias. The regulations were amended in September, 1916, to help scheme B candidates by doubling the maximum marks for laboratory work or outdoor work in field and garden. Further encouragement will be given to pupils taking the more practical courses in secondary schools by the Public Service Commissioner's decision to include woodwork and metal-work in the list of subjects for the next Public Service Entrance Examination. The standards of qualification for the year, fixed in accordance with the provisions of the Act, were 62| per cent, for juniors and 65 per cent, for seniors. In the case of junior scholarship candidates from one-teacher schools the standard of qualification was fixed at its lowest limit allowable by regulation— viz., 10 per cent, below the ordinary standard.

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The value of the services rendered by Inspectors of Schools in connection with the examination of papers and supervision of the annual examinations is estimated at upwards of £2,000. The cost of conducting the examinations was as follows : — Total expenses, including cost of additional clerical services temporarily £ employed, but omitting other salaries .. .. .. .. 5,947 Less recoveries— £ Fees paid by candidates for teachers' certificates and others .. 2 300 Paid by Public Service Commissioner for expense of conducting Public Service Examinations, the fees for which, amounting to £1,336, were credited to him— Public Service Entrance.. .. .. .. 892 Public Service Sen ior .. .. .. .. 799 3,991 Netjexpenditure .. .. .. .. £1,956 Conference re Examinations. The whole question of public examinations has come under review during the past year, and a conference of representatives of the University Senate, the University Board of Studies, the primary and secondary schools, with the Public Service Commissioner, the Assistant General Manager of Railways, and the Director of Education was held in Wellington on the 17th and 18th November last, with the view especially of effecting some co-ordination of the arrangements and incidentally of avoiding unnecessary duplication and expense. It has long been evident that there has been a great deal too much examination in connection with our education system, and that steps should be taken, with due safeguards with respect to efficiency, to find some other means of selection (apart from examination) of candidates for appointment to public positions, for admission to our secondary schools and universities, and for the award of certificates and degrees. At the conference referred to above the chief discussion took place on the questions as to whether there should be one examination authority and whether that authority should be the University Senate or the Education Department. On these matters opinion was strongly divided, but the majority favoured the Education Department as more suitable as an examining authority for primary and secondary schools. The conference also made recommendations in favour of abolishing some examinations and of reducing the number of candidates in others, and something has already been done in these directions. The special examination for junior free places in secondary schools has been abolished, the scholarship examination being utilized to some extent for the purpose; and the question of utilizing more extensively the accrediting principle— i.e., the award of certificates on the recommendation of the head teachers of our schools—is beingconsidered. This is the principle on which at the present time there are awarded senior free places in secondary schools, secondary-school certificates, teachers' training-college certificates; and so long as due precautions are taken that the certificates are not awarded to undeserving candidates and that all doubtful applicants are required to sit for examination, there is no reason why the accrediting principle should not be applied at least to all non-competitive examinations. The whole question of examinations is at present under the consideration of the Council of Education, and when that body reports it is hoped that practical steps will be taken to reduce still further the amount of examinationwork.

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No. 2. The Dirbotob of Education to the Hon. the Ministek op Education. Sie, — Education Department, Wellington, 22nd June, 1917. 1 have the honour to present the following report of the annual examinations conducted by the Department for the various purposes of Junior and Senior National Scholarships, of junior and senior free places in secondary schools, district high schools, and technical schools, and for teachers' certificates; also of the examinations associated therewith and conducted by arrangement with the Public Service Commissioner for admission to and promotion in the Public Service. These examinations fall into three main groups : — (i.) An examination in November or December to determine the grant of Junior Scholarships and junior free places ; (ii.) A main November series for Public Service Entrance, Senior National Scholarship, and senior free place purposes ; and (hi.) A January series (a) for teachers' certificates of Classes D and C, and incidentally to some extent of Class B, (b) for Public Service Senior qualifications, and (c) an examination to test the fitness of typists in the Public Service for promotion from the second to the first grade. The examinations were held between the 22nd and 29th November, 1916 (Public Service Entrance and Intermediate Examinations), on the 30th November and Ist December, 1916 (Junior National Scholarships and junior free places), and between the sth and 19th January, 1917 (Teachers' Certificate, Typists' Examination, and Public Service Senior), at the nine towns which are the seats of Education Boards, and at Alexandra, Aratapu, Ashburton, Balclutha, Blenheim, Carterton, Chatham Islands, Christchurch Convent, Colliugwood, Dannevirke, Eketahuna, Peilding, Gisborne, Gore, Greymouth, Hamilton, Hastings, Hawera, Hokitika, Kohukohu, Lawrence, Levin, Marton, Masterton, Oainaru, Pahiatua, Palmerston North, Paparoa, Petone, Pukekohe, Rangiora, Reefton, Rotorua, Stratford, Taihape, Takaka, Taumarunui, Tauranga, Te Aroha, Te Kuiti, Thames, Timaru, Waihi, Waimate, Waipawa, Wairoa, Wanganui Convent, Warkworth, Westport, Whakatane, and Whangarei. There were three centres in Auckland City, two in Christchurch, and two in Wellington. The following are the numbers of candidates who entered for the various examinations mentioned above as compared with the numbers of the preceding year :— Number who entered, 1916-17 ... ... ... ... ... 11,858 1915-16 10,978 Increase of candidates entered in 1916-17 ... ... 880 Number actually present at examination, 1916-17 ... ... ... 10,894 1915-16 ... ... ... 9,453 Increase of candidates present in 1916-17 ... ... ... 1,441 Number who did not present themselves, 1916-17 ... ... .. 964 1915-16 ... ... ... 1,525 This difference of 964 between those who entered for examination and those who actually sat is accounted for partly on the usual grounds, and partly by the operation of a clause in the Regulations for Training Colleges, under which certificates are awarded by the Director of Education without examination to students who have satisfactorily completed the' prescribed course of work and who are favourably reported upon by the Principal of the College. In the several examinations the following were the numbers present:— Junior National Scholarship and Junior Free Place Examinations ... 4,403 Public Service Entrance and allied examinations ... ... ... 3,839 Public Service Senior Examination ... ... ... ... 653 Teachers'Certificate Examinations ... ... ... ... 1,941 Typists' Examination ... ... ... ... ... ... 50 Other examinations <... ... ... ... ... ... 8

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The following table gives a comparative statement of the number of candidates examined under the principal groupings during the past six years : — 1911-IU. 1912-18. 1918-14. 1914-18. 1015-16. 1916-17. Junior National and Education Board Scholarships and junior free places 2,564 2,934 3,154 3,562 3,973 4,408 Public Service Entrance, Senior National Scholarships, and Intermediate ... ' ... ... 2,563 2,770 2,756 2,739 3,022 3,839 Teachers' D and C... ... "... 1,626 1,753 1,524 1,576 1,720 .1,941 Public Service Senior ... ... 518 574 871 804 675 653 Typists'Examination ... ... ... ... ... 46 51 50 Other examinations ... ... ... ... ... ... 12 8 Totals ... ... 7,271 8,031 8,305 8,727 9,453 10,894 The largest increase took place in the Public Service Entrance and Intermediate Examinations, the number examined being over eight hundred in excess of the number for the previous year. The Intermediate Examination alone is responsible for over six hundred of this increase. In the Public Service Entrance Examination the decision to charge an admission fee of £1 had the'effect of checking the growth of the numbers, otherwise the readmission of girls to the examination would have led to a large increase in the candidature. The actual result was that the 11umbers were very little in excess of those for the previous year. In the C and D Examinations an increase occurred in Class D of 159 and in Class C of 54. In the Public Service Senior Examination the number of candidates was almost the same as last year. No further opportunity of taking the whole examination will be given, as the Public Service Commissioner proposes to admit next year only those candidates who have already obtained partial success and wish to complete their examination. The number of candidates in January, 1918, will therefore be much smaller than in 1917. Of the total number of candidates that sat for the Junior National Scholarship and Junior Eree Place Examinations— The number of candidates for scholarships was ... ... ... 2,487 The number who obtained a scholarship qualification was ... ... 251 The number who qualified for a free place in the scholarship examination was ... ... ... ... ... ... ... 599 The number who failed was ... ... ... ... ... 1,637 The number of candidates for free places was ... ... ...• 1,916 The number of these who qualified for a free place was ... ... 738 The number who failed was ... ... ... ... ... 1,178 The highest percentages of marks gained in the various subjects of this examination were as follows: English, 97; arithmetic, 100; geography, 90; history and civics, 85; elementary science and nature-study, 88 ; drawing, I, 90; drawing, 11, 100. The highest percentage gained by any one candidate on the whole examination was 89'5. The following are details of candidature in regard to the Public Service Entrance and Intermediate Examinations in their varied applications : — (a.) Total candidates presenting themselves for examination ... ... 3,839 (6.) Candidates for the Public Service Entrance and Senior National Scholarship tests ... ... ... ... . . ... 1,881 (c.) Candidates for the intermediate tests (senior free places and drawing only) ... ... ... ... ... ... ... 1,958 Of the 809 candidates who sat for the Senior National Scholarship Examination 751 were examined on the Scheme A (General) Course, and 58 on the Scheme B (Rural and Domestic) Course. The numbers of candidates who qualified for scholarships in the two divisions were 102 and 8 respectively. Of the Public Service Senior candidates-— The number present at examination was ... ... ... ... 653 The number sitting to complete, having already been partially successful ... ... ... ... ... ... ... 239 The number sitting for the first time or without having gained any previous successes ... ... ... ... ... ... 399 The number who passed the whole examination ... ... ... 82 The number who gained a pass in two or more subjects without completing the whole examination ... ... ... ... 317 The number who failed ... ... ... ... ... ... 254

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The number of candidates who entered for the different stages of the Teachers' Certificate Examinations was 2,265. The following table shows the previous status of the candidates who actually sat, and the examinations for which they entered. Some individuals, who sat for two distinct classes of certificate, are necessarily reckoned twice :—

_ . , The following is a summary of the results of the examinations for teachers' certificates incompleted for Class A ... ... ... ... ... ... 2 B 5 C ... ... ... ... ... ... 115 I) ... ... ... ... ... ... 270 Completed for all classes ... ... ... ... ... 392 Partial pass for Class 1) ... ... ■" ... ... ... ... 243 Number who passed in a section for Class G ... ... ... ... 256 Number who obtained partial success (other than a "partial pass") towards Glass I) ... ... ... ... ... ... 596 Number unsuccessful in improving their status ... ... ... 489 Absentees ... ... ... ... ... .... ... 323 . . r In the above table candidates for more than one class of certificate are reckoned in each o tiie. classes for which they were successful. Attached to the report are lists of the examiners. The examination-papers, with an appendix containing criticisms and suggestions made by the examiners, have been printed separately. In addition to the examinations above referred to, the Department also conducted during the year the customary examinations in science subjects for the Board of Education, England, and in technological subjects for the City and Guilds of London Institute. Pull particulars of the number of entries for these examinations, the subjects selected by candidates, and the results are set out in detail in the special paper —E.-5 (Technical Instruction). I have, &c, W. J. Anderson, Director of Education.

Examinations previously passed. I Candidates ! For Class D for with the For Whole or ,-, Matrioulation Special Part of n] ° n Examination Certificates Class C olass J ' of in Single Bxamina- December, Subjects. tion. 1916. Totals. Nil Matriculation Glass E and partial pass for Glass E ... Class D ... Partial success towards Glass D Partial success towards Glass C— (i.) Alone (ii.) With Glass D Glass C and higher examinations 3 570 ' 45 2 ... i 24 177 > ... 1 3 7 J ... ... , 70 ... ... 1 161 543 32 2 66 43 ; 1 187 28 ... ... 1 620 202 10 71 738 110 187 29 Totals ... 542 1,340 ! 78 7 542 1,340 7S 1,967

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Appendix.—List of Examiners. Adamson, J., M.xA, L.L.8., Professor, Victoria < Loten, E. G. University College. I Low, B. H., 8.A., B.Sc. Andrews, W. D., B.A. Lynch, E. M. 8., Miss. M.A. Bakewell, F. H., M.A., Inspector of Schools. Mcllraith, J. W., M.A., Litt.D., LL.B., InBallantyne, W. A., 8.A., Inspector of Schools. spector of Schools. Barltrop, G. W. Mckenzie, N. R., Inspector of Schools. Bird, W. W., M.A., Senior Inspector of Schools. McLeod, M., 8.A., Inspector of Schools. Bolton, H. McNeil. A., M.A., Inspector of Schools. Bossence, C. R., Inspector of Schools. Macphail, M. M., Mrs. Brock, W., M.A., Senior Inspector of Schools. Maitland, W. G., Miss. Brown, J. R., M.A., Professor, Victoria Univer- Mayne, J. 8., 8.A., Inspector of Schools. sity College. Mills, C. 8., Miss, M.A., B.Sc. Brownlie, Robert. Milne, James, M.A., Inspector of Schools. Burdekin, H. Morris, William C. Burnside, William, M.A., Inspector of Schools. Morrison, A. F. Gane, T. W., M.A. Morton, A. J., 8.A., Senior Inspector of Schools. Ghamptaloup, S. T., B.Sc, Professor, Otago Mulgan, E. EL, M.A., Senior Inspector of University. Schools. Clark, E. H. Muter, P. Cousins, H. G., M.A. Neve, F., M.A., LL.B., B.Sc. Cox, J. T. G., Inspector of Schools, Owen, S. C, M.A., Inspector of Schools. Crawford, A., 8.A., Inspector of Schools. Partridge, A. L. M., Miss. Gumming, C. A. Plummer, G. H., LL.B., Inspector of Schools Dempsey, H. Priestly, M., Inspector of Schools. Don, J. R., M.A.,' D.Sc, Inspector of Schools. Purchase, J. E., M.A. Ellis, Joseph. Rawson, G. H., Miss. Evans, Kate M., Mrs., M.A. Renwick, Margaret L., Miss. Fleming, T. R., M.A., LL.B., Senior Inspector Richardson, C. R, D., M.A., Senior Inspector of of Schools. Schools. Freeman, D. L. Robertson, George. Garrard, C. W., 8.A., Inspector of Schools. Robieson, C. R. C. Garrow, J. M. E., 8.A., LL.B., Professor, Vic- \ Robinson, W. F., F.R.G.S. toria University College. , Rowe, T. W., M.A. Gill, T. H., M.A., LL.B., Inspector of Second- Russell, Isa, Mrs. ary Schools. Salmond, C. F., Professor, Canterbury College. Gow, J. G., M.A., Senior Inspector of Schools. Segar, H. W., Professor, University College, Gow, W. J. Auckland. Grant, J. Simmers, G. A., M.A. Green, E. S. Smith, Vivian. Hansen. D. E., M.A., D.Sc. Speight, R., M.A., M.Sc, F.G.S., (Canterbury Hardie, C. D., 8.A., Inspector of Schools. College, darkness, G. A., M.A., Senior Inspector of Spragg, S. Schools. Strachan, D., M.A., Inspector of Schools. Hawcridge, R. Strong, T. 8., M.A., B.Sc, Inspector of Schools. Hendry, J., 8.A., Inspector of Schools. Stuckey, F. G. A., M.A., Inspector of Schools. Hercus, E. J. D., M.A., B.Sc. Sturrock, D. A., Inspector of Schools, flight, J., M.A., Litt.D., F.8.E.5., Professor, i Tennant, J. S., M.A., B.Sc. Canterbury College. ! Thompson, G. E., M.A. Hilgendorf, F. W„ 8.A., D.Sc. Thomson, G. M. Hogben, G., M.A., F.G.B. Traversi, A. T. Howell, J. H., M.A., B.Sc. Treadwell, G. H. Hunter, D. F., Mrs. Trendall, A. D. Hurst-Seagar, S. Walker, M., M.A., 8.G0m., Professor, Auckland Inglis, A., M.A., M.Sc, Inspector of Schools. University College. Isaac, E. C, Inspector of Manual and Technical Ward, W. P., M.A., LL.B., Victoria University Instruction. College. Jerram, J. H. Watkin, L. J. Kirk, H. 8., M.A., Professor, Victoria Uni- Watson, I. E. S., Miss, M.A. versity College. Watt, M. H., Dr., Otago University. Lambourne, N. T., M.A., Inspector of Schools. " Webster, L. J., Miss. La Trobe, W. S., M.A. , Whetter, R. G., M.A., Inspector of Schools. Lawrell, M. E., Miss, M.A. : Wyllie, A. L., M.A., Inspector of Schools.

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