E.—s

connected with their trade or profession. It is hoped in this way to arouse the interest of intelligent and active young workers in commerce or industry in teaching, and to provide gradually a supply of better-trained teachers with good practical experience for both day and evening work. It is, of course, too early yet to form any definite opinion as to the possible success of the experiment, which has been thus begun on a modest scale. The fact, however, that it merely extends a practice which has been found fairly successful in one or two of the schools is some evidence that it may serve a useful purpose, and perhaps point the way to a more comprehensive and elaborate scheme for training specialist teachers for technical schools. The work of the schools generally proceeded on the same lines as in previous years. A slight falling-off was recorded in numbers attending the technical high schools, due entirely to decreases in the numbers of girls and boys taking a commercial or a general course. The numbers in other technical-high-school courses show increases. It is satisfactory to note that there is an increase in the attendance at technical classes, an increase mainly of students over seventeen years of age. The total number of students receiving instruction in all technical classes was 21,394, as compared with 20,876 in the previous year. Of this total 2,576 held free places at technical high schools, 3,966 held free places at other classes, and 1,636 were attending continuation and technical classes held under the regulations for compulsory attendance. Voluntary contributions in money to the funds of technical schools and classes amounted to £6,333, as compared with £2,975 in 1919, and subsidies were paid during the year 1920 to the amount of £5,020, as compared with £4,640 in the previous year. A considerable proportion of the increase in voluntary contributions for the year 1920 was due to special efforts in two or three schools in connection with raising funds for war memorials. Classes other than Classes at Technical High Schools. Classes were held at 121 centres. In the previous year the number of centres was 110, and the increase was probably due to an increase in the number of woolsorting classes in country centres. The number of classes and the number of individual students were as follows :—

It is to be noted in comparing the numbers for 1920 with those for 1919 that the Nelson Technical School was conducted by a Board of Managers in 1920 for the first time. This caused a transfer in numbers of 69 classes and 483 pupils from the first to the second line in the above table. The following are some particulars of the age, sex, and occupations of students : —

3

Number of Classes. Number of Students. Description of Class. 1919. 1920. 1919. 1920. Conducted by Education or High School Boards Conducted by Technical School Boards or by Managers . . Conducted by University Colleges 959 879 176 913 968 198 8,232 8,664 1,054 8,221 9,163 1,244 Totals 2,014 2,079 17,950 18,628

Seventeen Years of Age and under. Over Sevej of. iteen Years Lge. Totals. 1919. 1920. 1919. 1920. 1919. 1920. Males .. Females 4,984 4,851 4,074 4,156 4,3054,587 4,700 4,921 9,289 8,661 9,551 9,077 Totals .. 9,058 9,007 8,892 9,621 17,950 18,628