E.—l2

1908. NEW ZEALAND.

EDUCATION: SECONDARY EDUCATION. [In continuation of E.-12, 1907.]

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

1. EXTKACT FKOM THE THIETY-FIRST ANNUAL EEPOET OF THE MINISTER OF EDUCATION. The Education Board scholarship scheme by which the Education Boards, under the local regulations approved by the Minister of Education, award annually a large number of scholarships of varying value out of an allowance of old standing, amounting to Is. 6d. per head of the average attendance, still remains one of the chief doors of entry to secondary schools for the most promising of the primary-school pupils. The regulations adopted in the different districts commonly provide for two classes of scholarships, junior and senior—the former limited to children under fourteen or in some cases under thirteen years of age resident in the district, and tenable usually for two years; the latter, more restricted in number, continuing the secondary education of the holders for two or three years longer. During the year 1907 Education Board scholarships—junior and senior—were current to the number of 491, or twenty-eight more than the total of 1906 (463). The actual monetary value of these scholarships in most instances is small, the object in view being generally to spread the benefits as widely as possible rather than to provide attractive prizes for a few. Each scholarship, however, through the operation of the provisions for free places, which give a preference to scholarship-holders, carries with it in all but certain exceptional circumstances the substantial benefit of free tuition, and a lodging or travelling allowance is added where necessary. The total expenditure on scholarships of this class during the year 1907 was £8,547. The following table shows the number and value of Education Board scholarships current at the end of 1907 :■ —

Table H. —Number and Value of Education Board Scholarships.

I—E. 12

Education Districts. Number held in Dec, 1907. Boys. Girls. Period of Tenure. Boards' Expenditure on Scholarships in 1907. Annual Value, &c. 91 61 30 Years. 3 £ s. a.; 2,129 5 11 29 at £40; 1 at £30; 8 at £25; 5 at £20; 13 at £15 ; 35 at £10. 5 at £35; 1 at £16 ; 1 at £14 ; 1 at £12 ; 14 at £10. 12 at £40; 2 at £23 10s.; 2 at £21; 7 at £15 ; 14 at £10. 12 at £40; 1 at £10; 4 at £9; 2 at £8 18s. ; 1 at £8 9s. 6d.; 1 at £7 ; 46 at £5. 16 at £30 ; 1 at £12 10s.; 4 at £10 ; 1 at £7 10s. ; 15 at £2 10a. 2 at £25 ; 8 at £10; 3 at £2. 5 at £40 ; 4 at £25 ; 25 at £1 5s. 2 at £26 ; 6 at £8. 1 at £20 ; 3 at £10 ; 3 at £4. 18 at £30 ; 31 at £10. 6 at £27 ; 25 at £7. 22 at £40; 2 at £30 ; 17 at £10; 9at £6; 17 at £4. 19 at £30; 2 at £15; 7 at £5. Auckland Taranaki • 22 16 6 2 327 9 0 Wanganui 37 16 21 2 or 3 829 13 10 Wellington 67 42 25 2 877 6 8 Hawke's Bay 37 24 13 2 580 12 6 Marlborough Nelson Grey Westland North Canterbury South Canterbury Otago 13 34 8 7 49 31 67 6 12 5 5 28 21 44 7 22 3 2 21 10 23 2 2 2 2 2 1 or 2 2 or 3 102 10 "0 357 8 0 93 10 0 67 0 0 939 4 10 350 9 10 1,253 9 4 Southland 28 14 142 or 3 638 15 0 Totals, 1907.. Totals, 1906.. 491 463 294 284 197 179 8,546 14;il 8,487 18 8