41

E.—l

Number of Students taking Group Courses. /-,„ » T . i- Number of Students. Course of Instruction. .„,. .' lr Elementary and higher commercial, and general (including 2,117 2,523 public examinations) Practical mathematics and science .. .. .. 97 159 Mathematics and science applied to trades and industries .. 1,378 1,417 Domestic science .. .. .. .. .. 583 855 Arts and art-crafts .. .. .. .. .. 646 684 Totals .. .. .. ~. 4,821 5,638 Group courses occupying not less than four hours a week and eighty hours a year were provided at forty-six schools, an increase of 18 per cent. About 30 per cent, of the students took such courses, the total number doing so being 800 more than in the previous year. The attendance at domestic courses shows an increase of 46 per cent., at commercial courses of 19 per cent., and at industrial and science courses of 7 per cent.

Number of Students receiving Free Education under the Regulations for Free Places.

About one-fifth of the students in attendance held free places as above. The total number of junior free pupils was 2,258, a decrease of 19, and of senior free pupils, 1,633, an increase of 326. Over 45 per cent, of the students who entered on junior free places in 1914 continued to attend in 1915. Of the total number of senior free pupils in their first year 30 per cent, had previously completed two years .at technical classes as junior free pupils. The remainder were admitted either from technical high schools, secondary schools, or district high schools. In addition to the students holding Government free places, 465 students held scholarships or free places provided locally. Regulations requiring the attendance of young persons between the ages of fourteen and seventeen, who are not otherwise receiving a suitable education or who are not specially exempted from attendance, were in force in seven school districts in Auckland, in six in Wanganui, and in one in Taranaki and Hawke's Bay respectively. The number of students attending under these regulations was 858, an increase of 422. Of this number 526 were males. Capitation [payments for the year on account of free technical education amounted to £7,771. The following technical schools had roll numbers of 500 and over, exclusive of the technical high schools carried on in connection with some of them : — c, , , Roll Number. Sohool - 1914. 1915. Auckland Technical College .. .. .. .. 1,620 1,451 Dunedin Technical College .. .. .. ..1,195 1,277 Wellington Technical College .. .. .. ..1,119 1,163 Christchurch Technical College .. .. .. ..1,295 1,156 Wanganui Technical College .. .. .. .. 741 984 Palmerston North Technical School .. .. .. 545 566 Dunedin School of Art .. .. .. .. .. 617 535 The slight fall in the attendance noticeable in the case of some of the schools may fairly be ascribed to withdrawals as the result of enlistment. The attendance generally must be regarded as satisfactory in view of the fact that it is for the most part voluntary. It is gratifying to note that the proportion of students who take up definite courses involving attendance on three or more evenings a week continues to be maintained.

6—E. 1.

1914. 1915. T . , ., (First year Junior free pupils j Secon^year (First year Senior free pupils j Second year (Third year Males. 847 555 374 247 95 Females. 510 365 306 208 77 Total. 1,357 920 680 455 172 Males. 850 549 447 305 162 Females. Total. 501 1,351 358 907 348 795 262 567 109 271 Totals 2,118 1,468 3,584 2,313 1,578 3,891 _L