37

E.—l

Scholarships held at Secondary Schools and District High Schools. (Sec also E.-O, Tables K5, L-l, and 1.5.) These scholarships are of four kinds, — (i.) National Scholarships ; (ii.) Education Board Scholarships ; (iii.) Foundation (or Governors') Scholarships, given by the governing bodies of secondary schools ; (iv.) Private scholarships, endowed by private owners. (i.) National Scholarships. Junior and Senior National Scholarships in the proportion of 9 to 5 are awarded on the results of annual examinations, the junior examination being of a standard somewhat higher than that of the certificate of proficiency, and the senior examination being of a standard comparable with the standard of the Public Service Entrance Examination. The examinations are not competitive, the standard of award being determined so as approximately to provide one scholarship for every 500 children in attendance at all public schools. In the case of pupils from sole-teacher schools — i.e., schools with an average attendance of under 36—the standard of award is made 10 per cent, lower than in the case of pupils from larger schools. The results of the examinations held in 1915 were as follows : 204 candidates qualified for Junior National Scholarships ; of tins number 22 were pupils of soleteacher schools, and 58, or more than 25 per cent., were pupils of secondary schools or held free places at district high schools. It will be observed that about one-ninth of the number of pupils who qualified came from sole-teacher schools ; on an averageattendance basis about one-sixth of the number of scholarships should have been awarded to pupils of those schools. This matter will require further consideration. The number of candidates qualifying for Senior National Scholarships was 111. Of this number only 3 qualified on the alternative programme provided specially to suit the needs of those taking a rural or domestic course. That so small a proportion of these candidates succeeded points to the need of a modification of the present conditions. Junior and Senior National Scholarships are tenable at secondary schools, each for three years, provided that the total tenure of the two scholarships in the case of one person must not exceed five years. In addition to tuition fees, the holder receives £5 per annum if a junior scholar, and £10 per annum if a senior scholar, with a further sum of £35 per annum in both cases if obliged to live away from home. The following summary to Table L.4 of E.-6, showing the number and value of Junior National Scholarships current in December, 1914, and December, 1915, respectively, deals only with the Junior National Scholarships awarded under earlier conditions. The first award of scholarships under the new conditions was made at the beginning of 1916 : — Number of scholarships,— -814, IMS. Boys .. .. .. .. .. .. 76 91 Girls .. .. .. .. .. ..59 51 Totals .. .. .. .. ..135 142 Number receiving boarding-allowance (included in the above total) 77 76 Number receiving travelling-allowance (similarly included) .. 3 4 Number held at secondary schools .. .. .. ..117 120 Number held at district high schools .. .. 18 22 Total annual rate of payment .. .. .. ..£3,650 £3,772 (ii.) Education Board Scholarships. The Education Board Scholarships now current will, in accordance with the provisions of the Education Act, 1914, gradually be entirely replaced by Junior and Senior National Scholarships. There were current in 1915 645 Education Board Scholarships, ranging in value from £2 10s. per annum to £40 per annum. The total