E.—l

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training in subjects related to industrial occupations to specially recommended pupils who have not passed S6 has been of some assistance to these children, nearly two hundred free places of this kind being taken up in 1921. Of the pupils who passed S6 before leaving the primary school over 60 per cent, enter upon some course of secondary education, 9 per cent, take up trades; 7 per cent., farming; 3 per cent., clerical or commercial work; 4 per cent, enter one or other of the Government services; and 22 per cent, of the girls take up domestic duties. Registered Private Primary Schools. (Tables Dl and D.-2 in E. 2.) The provisions of the Education Amendment Act, 1921-22, make it compulsory for all private schools to apply for registration, which is granted if in the opinion of the Department's Inspectors the instruction afforded is as efficient as in a public school of the same class and if the school is satisfactory from the point of view of premises, staff, and equipment. The parents of children attending unregistered schools are liable to a penalty under the compulsory attendance clauses of the Act. Private schools are inspected annually by the Department's Inspectors, and the S6 pupils examined for the award of proficiency and competency certificates ; in this way it is ensured that children not attending the State schools are receiving an adequate education elsewhere. The following statistics relate to registered primary schools in 1921 : —

Average attendance .. . . . . .. . . . . . . . . 20, 941 Ages of pupils — Children under seven years of age .. .. .. .. .. .. 4,071 Children from seven to eleven years of age . . . . .. .. .. 10,183 Children from eleven to thirteen years of age .. .. .. .. .. 5,161 Children from thirteen to fourteen years of age . . . . . . .. .. 2,304 Children from fourteen to fifteen years of age .. .. .. .. .. 1,469 Children over fifteen years of age .. . . . . .. .. .. 736 S6 examinations — Number of pupils in S6 .. .. .. .. .. .. 1, 766 Number obtaining proficiency certificates . . .. .. .. .. 1, 151 Number obtaining competency certificates .. .. .. . . .. 237 Number obtaining endorsed competency certificates ' .. .. .. .. 36 Number of teachers — Males. Females. Catholic Church schools .. . . .. .. .. .. 40 520 Other Church schools .. .. .. .. .. .. ... 11 84 Undenominational schools .. .. .. .. .. .. 25 78 Totals .. .. .. .. .. . . 76 682 Tables Dl and D 2 in E.-2 give particulars of the schools in the various districts. A list of registered private schools is published annually in the New Zealand Gazette. Conveyance and Board of Scholars. Free passes on the railway to the nearest public or private school are granted to children living near to the railway-line but out of reach of a primary school, and the same privilege is enjoyed by pupils having to travel to attend secondary schools, district high schools, and technical high schools, and also by free-place holders travelling to attend technical schools or classes other than technical high schools. Education Boards are also authorized to make provision when necessary for the conveyance of pupils to primary schools by road or water, and to contribute towards the payment for board of children compelled to live away from home in order to attend school. The Department contributes at the rate of from 4d. to

Catholic Church Schools. Other Church Sohools. Undenominational Schools. Total. umber of schools .oil number .. 168 19,647 32 2,882 35 1,395 Boys. 10,967 235 Girls. 12,957 Total. 23,924