E. -8,

Session 11. 1912. NEW ZEALAND.

E DUCATION: ANNUAL EXAMINATIONS. [In continuation of E.-8, 1911.]

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

No. 1. EXTEACT FEOM THE THIRTY-FIFTH ANNUAL REPORT OF THE MINISTER OF EDUCATION. Annual Examinations. The annual examinations were conducted by the Department as usual for the various purposes of Junior National Scholarships, Junior Free Places in secondary schools, district high schools, and technical schools, Senior Free Places in secondary schools and district high schools, for admission to or promotion in the Civil Service, and for teachers' certificates. The examinations were held from the 21st to 29th November, and on the 30th November and Ist December, 1911, and from the sth to 20th January, 1912, at fifty-seven centres. The number of candidates examined in these two sets of examinations shows a considerable increase over the numbers of previous years. It will be noticed from the table given below that the increase has been general in all of the examinations. 1909-10. 1910-U. 1911-12. Junior National and Education Board Scholarships and Junior Free Places 2.214 2,383 2,564 Civil Service Junior, Senior Free Places, Education Board Senior Scholarships, First Pupil-teachers .. .. .. ..2,369 2,375 2,563 Teachers D and C 1,482 1,534 1,626 Civil Service Senior .. .. • • • • • • .. 443 390 518 Totals .. .. ■• ■• •■ 6,508 6,682 7,271 The following table shows collectively, in comparison with the preceding year, the number who entered for the various examinations enumerated, the number present, and the number of absentees. In explanation of the number set down under the last of these heads it is to be noted that the relatively large proportion is to be accounted for partly on the usual grounds, but chiefly in the case of Senior Free Place candidates through the application of a principle recently put in opera-

I—E. 8.