E._ c

6

Free Places in December, 1919 and 1920 — continued. .. , 1919. , , 1920. , (ll.) District high schools— Hoys. Girls. Totals. Boys. Girls. Totals. (a.) Junior free pupils .. 849 859 1,708 809 867 1,676 (6.) Senior free pupils . . 116 191 307 157 184 341 Totals .. .. 965 1,050 2,015 966 1,051 2,017 (iii.) Maori secondary schools .. 42 48 90 48 50 98 (iv.) Technical high schools— («.) Junior free pupils ..) „ r . . ,„„ „ -_. (1,226 1,000 2,226 (b.) Senior free pupils .. J ' > 601 1,4U3 "' ' M 1 151 199 350 Totals .. .. 1,351 1,403 2,754 1,377 1,199 2,576 Grand totals .. 6,338 6,178 12,516 6,607 5,937 12,544 Of the pupils of Government secondary schools it thus appears that 91 per cent, are receiving free education. Scholarships held at Secondary Schools and District High Schools. (See also Tables K4 and K 5.) National Scholarships. Junior and Senior National Scholarships are awarded by the Government on the results of annual examinations, the junior examination being of a standard somewhat higher than that of the certificate of proficiency, and the candidates being not over fourteen years of age ; and the senior examination being of a standard comparable with the standard of the Public Service Entrance Examination, the candidates being not over sixteen years of age. Scholarships are awarded to all candidates reaching a certain standard, the standard of award being determined so as approximately to provide one scholarship (junior or senior) for every 500 children in attendance at all public schools ; the Junior and Senior Scholarships awarded are in the proportion of nine to five, so that there is one Junior Scholarship among approximately every 750 pupils in attendance at the schools, or among every fifty-five §6 pupils. In the case of pupils from sole-teacher schools — i.e., schools with an average attendance of under thirty-six—the standard of award is made 10 per cent, lower than the general standard. The standard of qualification fixed for the 1920 examinations was 64 per cent, for Junior Scholarships (general standard) and 63| per cent, for Senior Scholarships. The results of the examination were as follows : 220 candidates qualified for Junior National Scholarships, as compared with 211 in 1919, of which number seven were pupils of sole-teacher schools, and fifty-seven were pupils of secondary schools. The number of successful pupils from sole-teacher schools was greater than in the previous year, and the number from secondary schools considerably smaller. The number of candidates qualifying for Senior National Scholarships was 122, of which number only one qualified on the alternative programme provided specially to suit the needs of those taking a rural or domestic course. Junior and Senior National Scholarships are tenable at secondary schools and district high 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. The holder receives £5 per annum if a junior scholar, or £10 per annum if a senior scholar, with a further sum of £35 per annum in each case if obliged to live away from home. The figures below indicate the number and the value of scholarships current in December, 1919, and December, 1920, respectively. The number of scholarshipholders is, of course, included in the number of free-place holders shown in the preceding section. Number of scholarship-holders—■ 1919. 1920 Boys .. .. .. .. .. .. 481 458 Girls , .. .. .. .. .. .. 285 280 Totals .. .. .. .. 766 738 Number receiving boarding-allowance (included in the above total) .. .. .. .. .. .. 221 201 Number receiving travelling-allowance (similarly included) .. 42 45 Number held at public secondary schools .. .. .. 661 627 Number held at other registered secondary schools .. .. 23 36 Number held at district high schools .. .. .. 82 75 Total annual rate of payment .. .. .. .. £12,913 £12,510