E.—B.

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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